Swimming to Paris
Photo courtesy of Cambodia National Team
Former Ball State University swimmer Apsara Sakbun, ’23, was training for a marathon when she received a phone call from the head of the Khmer Swimming Federation in Cambodia.
After setting national records at the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Ms. Sakbun was asked to represent Cambodia in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. She was the only female swimmer selected to represent the nation at the 2024 Olympics.
“It’s an immense honor,” she said about representing Cambodia, from where her father, Vannara, immigrated before she was born. “When my dad left Cambodia, it was during a really hard time for the country. This is just so telling of his story and my family’s story of how they came to America for more opportunities and a better life.”
After a decorated career as a Cardinal—including setting multiple program records and being chosen as a three-time academic all-conference selection—Ms. Sakbun became the fifth former Ball State student-athlete to become an Olympian. She joined William Marlin (Pete) Lee, ’74 MA ’76 (1976, Greco-Roman Wrestling), Marco Teran, ’75 MA ’81 (1976, Freestyle Wrestling), Phil Eatherton, ’97 (2004, Men’s Volleyball), and Jenny Gilbert, ’14 MA ’17 (2020, Softball).
