Big feats and stiff competition rule the Kenya National Swimming Championships
The next major event on the Kenya Aquatics calendar is the highly anticipated Masters Gala, set to take place on February 22 at the same venue
Kenya Aquatics club hosted its two-day National Swimming Championships gala at the weekend, bringing together over 40 schools and swim clubs from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda at the Kasarani Aquatics Arena.
The prestigious event saw elite swimmers from institutions such as Brookhouse School, Kisumu School, Kiota School, and Crawford International, while top-tier clubs, including Dashing Dolphins, Ndupawa, Otters, Sea Horses Aquatics, and Rapids, showcased their talent in the highly competitive championship.
With over 400 athletes battling to the hilt, the championship was marked by exhilarating races, record-breaking performances, and rising stars that stamped their authority in the pool. One of the standout moments came from 13-year-old Waweru Tevin of Raptors Swim Club, who shattered a long-standing meet record in the 100m backstroke.
Clocking an impressive 1:17.49, Tevin erased Graham Walker’s 2010 record, signaling the emergence of a new force in Kenyan swimming. Expressing his joy, Tevin admitted the competition was fierce but vowed to keep pushing himself to greater heights.
Another young prodigy, Salima Said, 12, of Bandari Swim Club, delivered a breathtaking performance in the 200m event, clinching gold with a record-breaking time of 3:36.34. The young sensation, elated by her triumph, described it as a dream come true and pledged to continue training rigorously to elevate her performance at the national level.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Ariana Barchha from Genesis Sports added to the spectacle by claiming gold in the 200m backstroke, clocking 2:49.20 in a grueling contest that tested her endurance and technique. Despite facing stiff competition, Ariana described the experience as both challenging and rewarding.
In the men’s category, Bandari Swim Club emerged as the dominant force, securing an impressive 56 medals—24 gold, 19 silver, and 13 bronze. Braeburn Swimming Club followed closely in second place with a total of 33 medals, including 14 gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze, while Sea Horses rounded off the podium with 13 medals—9 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze.
The women’s category saw Braeburn claim the top spot with a commanding 37 medals—19 gold, 14 silver, and 4 bronze. The Tanzanian swimmers squad finished second, bagging a total of 28 medals (14 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze), while Mombasa Aquatics secured third place with 17 medals, including 6 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze.
Bandari Swim Club was crowned the overall champions, amassing a total of 72 medals, with 35 gold, 23 silver, and 14 bronze. Braeburn Swimming Club followed closely in second place with 70 medals (33 gold, 24 silver, and 13 bronze), while the Tanzanian swimmers squad took third place with 44 medals—20 gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze.
The next major event on the Kenya Aquatics calendar is the highly anticipated Masters Gala, set to take place on February 22 at the same venue and also young ones eyeing for the prestigious national junior swimming championship in May in Kisumu. With over 40 teams from Kenya and beyond already confirming participation, the upcoming masters for 25 years and over promises to be another thrilling showcase of swimming talent among the adults.
