Alexander “Alex” Gadegaard Shah, a rising senior on Fordham’s swim team, is back at the Olympics. 

Shah, a psychology major at Fordham College at Rose Hill, will compete in the 100-meter freestyle in Paris on July 30. It will be the second time that he has represented his home country of Nepal in the Olympics. 

In 2021, he competed in the pandemic-delayed 2020 games in Tokyo, finishing with a time of 53.41 in the same race. Since then, Shah has competed both with the Fordham swim team and on his own. In February, his 52:17 finish at the World Aquatic Championships in Doha, Qatar, earned him his spot on Nepal’s team again this year.

Shah talked with Fordham Now just before his departure.

What are your hopes for Paris? 

I want to break that 52-second barrier. That was something that I wanted to do in February. I also want to lower that record for Nepal, where I currently hold that 100 freestyle record as a national record. So from a broader standpoint, it’s also about representing my country to the best of my ability.

How has your time at Fordham prepared you for the Olympics? 

College swimming is very demanding. We race a lot, and training is a bit more intense because I’m also trying to balance student life, like studying for exams. But it’s also a huge advantage to be a Division 1 college athlete because of the competition around us. It’s helped me practice and compete at a high level. 

What about 100-meter freestyle is so appealing to you?

Growing up, I just enjoyed sprinting more than distance training. I wasn’t really about going long distances. I found that pretty boring. Also, the 100-meter freestyle at the Olympics is one of the most watched final events in the whole competition. It really comes down to pure athleticism, and it’s just really a fun race.

Are you going to approach this competition any differently than the last one?

I’m definitely fitter and stronger than I was then, and that’s through training at Fordham. I’ve been able to include lifting into my swimming routine, and as a sprinter, that’s very valuable. Working with Coach Tom Wilkins, my aerobic capacity has really increased as well. I have to just trust the process and look back at some of the other races that I’ve had this last year. Those races have helped me understand exactly what I need to do. 

Have there been any setbacks along the way that you’ve overcome?

This last year has been super important because it’s been that Olympic year for qualifying, and I didn’t know how well I’d do in February. But it all worked out in the end when Tom Wilkins came in. I felt really supported and prepared in terms of racing training. I haven’t swum this fast in my life before, and I haven’t felt this good before. 

[A]ccording to Mark Conrad, a professor of law and ethics at Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, that model isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

“I don’t see the day that all Olympic athletes will be paid by the IOC, because the IOC has never thought of them as a labor force – which in some ways they are, because they’re providing entertainment for a mass audience as well as wanting to compete and win medals,” Conrad told CNN.

But, according to Conrad, the process of receiving money through sponsorships is weighted heavily in favor of the superstar athletes, with many of the lesser-known Olympic participants forced to spend their own money to fund their way.

“Getting those endorsements is not easy. I mean, you really have to be Simone Biles level or Sha’Carri Richardson level to get significant endorsement money,” Conrad explained.

For example, Biles earns $7 million from endorsements, according to Forbes.

“What sometimes companies will do, and it really depends on the level one is in, their endorsement deal will be free equipment and a few promotional events, but not a lot of money. And chances are it’s going to be the Olympic champions who will then get an endorsement for a lot of money.”