# @ucberkeleyofficial on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DdUthLOIE50
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70443409-ucberkeleyofficial-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/01b0af62df.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-15T21:47:41.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UC Berkeley (@ucberkeleyofficial) — https://gondola.cc/ucberkeleyofficial

## Caption

“Before I dive, I take deep breaths and tell myself: ‘I’m confident. I can do this. I’ve done this before.’ I fill myself with positive energy.

I started diving when I was 5. My family would go to Gezira Sporting Club, a big outdoor facility in Cairo where people play sports and socialize. When I first saw people jumping off the diving boards there, I told my mom, “I want to try this.” So I started diving two to three times a week.

Growing up in Cairo, I didn’t see many girls who dived. Attitudes toward girls and women wearing swimsuits in public vary widely. In more conservative settings, people think it’s unacceptable to wear one. But my family is open-minded. We think: It’s a sport, I train every day, it’s healthy for my body.

Every day after school, I took the bus to the club to train. During summer break, I trained all day, from early morning until evening. I loved it.

In 2024, I competed for Egypt in the women’s 10-meter platform diving event at the Olympic Games in Paris. I qualified in December 2023 in Durban, South Africa, so I only had a year to prepare. It happened so fast.

I visited Berkeley last May and met with the diving coach Pei Lin. I felt that she’s really passionate about diving. I also met the diving team, and they’re a really close group. This is something very important to me: they’re not only good divers, but good people with good bonds.

And of course, Berkeley’s academic excellence and its beautiful campus were a draw, too. I’m considering getting a business degree, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m just going to try to enjoy my time here as it happens.” — Malak Tawfik, first-year student

#UCBerkeley #BackToBerkeley

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## Tags

backtoberkeley, ucberkeley

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