The 15-year-old Bandey along with runner Rabia Ashiq was the only other female participant from Pakistan. She competed in the first heat of the event but her time of 5.34.64 saw her finish fourth out of the four in her race.

However, that time was over two seconds quicker than her qualifying effort (5.37.11), meaning the Bandey set a new national record.

“You can learn a lot from here. I have learnt a lot from the older athletes. I am still young, I’m 15,” she said while talking to a media tabloid.

On competing in her first Olympic Games, she commented, “It was amazing. I was really nervous at the start. I had to break the national record which I did but I have been preparing for a year and to compete with all of these amazing athletes is an amazing experience. It’s one I will remember for a long time.”

The other Pakistani swimmer at London 2012, Israr Hussain, will compete in the 100m freestyle heats to be held on July 31.