Rio 2016: Abeiku Jackson fails to qualify in 50m freestyle

Young Ghanaian swimmer Abeiku Gyekye Jackson yesterday placed sixth in the Heat 5 of the 50 metres freestyle swimming event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

The 16-year-old swam alongside Abdoul Khadre Niane of Senegal,Meli Malani of Fifi, Maksim Inic of Montenegro, Ahmed Attellesey of Libya, Rahman Md Mahfizur of Bangladesh, Lum Zhaveli of Kosovo and Dulguun Batsaikhan of Mongolia in a keenly contested race.

The race was won by Abdoul Khadre Niane of Senegal with Meli Malani and Maksim Inic coming in second and third place respectively. 

However, Jackson recorded a personal best time of 24.30s in the race held at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. He placed 55 out of 85 swimmers in the overrall classification.

He also became the first Ghanaian male to compete at the Olympics.

Jackson is the third Ghanaian (after fellow swimmer Kaya Swimmer and judoka Szandra Szogedi) to exit the Games in the first round.