Bangladesh Navy swimmer Samiul Islam Rafi once again demonstrated his dominance in the pool, emerging as the standout performer with 11 gold medals at the recently concluded 35th National Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Championship at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.
He also clinched the men's best swimmer award for the fourth consecutive edition, further cementing his position as one of the country's leading swimmers.
The 22-year-old from Rajbari believes his performances have improved after spending the last two years training in Thailand. He is now targeting direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to further improve his timings to achieve that goal.
“I had the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics through a wild card. But this time, I want to qualify directly for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It’s my dream to compete in Los Angeles. I know I have to improve my performance further to achieve that goal. I am moving forward with that target, preparing myself through hard work and different plans," Rafi told BSS.
Rafi described competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the biggest achievement of his career so far.
"Taking part in the Paris Olympics in 2024 remains the biggest achievement of my career. At that time, I could not dominate in as many events as I do now. Gradually, I am improving. Every athlete dreams of competing at the Olympics, the biggest sporting stage in the world, and representing their country there was a great achievement for me.
“My record in Thailand was another special achievement. I set a South Asian record in the 50-metre backstroke. These achievements really inspire me,” he said.
Rafi established eight new national records at the national meet, including four in individual events — the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
He also helped set records in four team events — the 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m mixed medley relay, 4x100m medley relay and 4x100m mixed freestyle relay. Besides his record-breaking performances, he won gold in the 200m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke.
Rafi said his two-year training stint in Thailand had played a significant role in his development. His progress there also earned him an opportunity to train in France.
“I trained in Thailand for the last two years. As my performance improved, I got the opportunity to train in France from Thailand. France has many world-class swimmers. I trained alongside them and learned a lot. I gained valuable knowledge and experience, which I am now able to apply in every moment of my performance,” he said.
Rafi clocked 25.81 seconds to win gold in the 50m backstroke, bettering his previous national record of 26.05 seconds set at the 2025 edition.
The Navy swimmer said the timing had exceeded his expectations.
“The 50 and 100-metre backstroke are my favourite events, and I won gold in both. The timing in the 50-metre backstroke was quite unexpected. I never thought I would achieve such a good time. I was initially surprised by the result, but I was extremely happy. I believe this performance has taken me a long way forward. It shows that I am improving, and that gives me confidence to move ahead with even greater determination,” he said.
Rafi lost his father in a road accident when he was just eight years old. His journey in competitive swimming began in 2016, when he was in Class VII and took part in the talent hunt programme titled 'Search for the Best Swimmer'. He subsequently earned a place in the Bangladesh Swimming Federation's training camp, where his talent was identified.
"I first learned to swim at the age of three in my village. In 2016, through the 'Search for the Best Swimmer' programme, I entered competitive swimming. From the beginning, I dreamed of becoming the country's best swimmer. The Navy is an iconic institution for many swimmers. Inspired by that, I joined the Bangladesh Navy," he said.
Rafi also urged young people to take up swimming, calling on parents to encourage their children to pursue the sport from an early age.
“In our country, many children start swimming at a very young age in villages, mostly for recreation and enjoyment. However, we often start professional swimming much later. In many countries, children take up swimming professionally from an early age, and their parents are very serious about it. They provide their children with encouragement and support.
“I believe that if parents in our country also come forward and encourage their children, we can produce many talented swimmers who will bring glory to the nation," he added.
Rafi is now preparing for the 18th World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), scheduled to be held in Beijing, China, in December. He aims not only to improve his personal bests but also to reach the semifinals of the global competition.
