Team Namibia has made an impressive splash at the Junior World Swimming Championships in Romania, with several national records already shattered in the first two days of the competition.
The championships, hosted by World Aquatics, feature over 600 of the world’s top junior swimmers from more than 100 countries.
Namibian athletes have shown they are more than ready to compete on this prestigious global stage.
Strong start
Day one of competition for Namibian athletes at the Junior Worlds in Romania got off to a great start for Team Namibia.
Oliver Durand opened with a strong 3:58.57 in the 400-metre (m) freestyle, showing real control throughout the race.
This performance not only placed him amongst the top in his heat but also broke his own Namibian Long Course Record in the 17-18 age group for the event.
Lorenzo Esterhuizen followed with an impressive performance in the 100m backstroke, clocking 58.51 with a great finish, also setting a new Namibian Long Course Record in the 15-16 age group, previously held by Ronan Wantenaar.
Ainoa Naukosho delivered a gutsy effort in the 400m freestyle, recording a time of 5:16.14, while Roselinda Matyayi swam with confidence and poise, finishing the 100m backstroke in a smooth 1:07.71. These opening-day performances set a positive tone for the rest of the championship.
Record-breaking momentum
Day two at the Junior Worlds brought even more fast swims and new national records for the team.
Durand led the way once again, powering to a remarkable 2:02.81 in the 200m Individual Medley (IM), finishing 16th overall out of 75 swimmers.
This outstanding effort broke the Namibian Long Course Open Record, previously held by Ronan Wantenaar and lowered Durand’s own 17-18 age group record.
He followed up by smashing his own 17-18 age group record in the 200m freestyle, stopping the clock at 1:52.90.
Lorenzo Esterhuizen posted a solid 2:12.30 in the 200m IM (45th overall) and clocked 57.90 in the 100m butterfly, placing 53rd out of 85 swimmers.
Teammate Luke Beukes recorded a strong 56.01 in the 100m butterfly (39th place) and went under two minutes in the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:59.90.
Jessica Humphrey impressed in the sprints, firing off a 59.10 in the 100m freestyle (48th out of 110), with Naukosho close behind in 1:01.74 (74th).
Humphrey set a new Namibian Long Course Open and age group record in the 100m backstroke with 1:02.84 while leading off a relay, her time counting officially due to her position as the opening swimmer.
Madison Bergh capped off the morning session with a powerful swim in the 800m freestyle, clocking 9:31.79, a new national record in the 15-16 girls’ category.
Riaan Steyn, president of the Namibia Swimming Federation, expressed gratitude for the support that made the team’s participation possible.
“We thank the Namibian National Olympic Committee for the financial assistance and belief in the future of Namibian athletes,” Steyn said.
“This event is a great platform and further step for our NASFED athletes towards qualification for upcoming events such as the Africa Youth Games, Youth Olympics, Commonwealth and Youth Commonwealth Games, and ultimately the Olympics in 2028,” he added.
He acknowledged the government’s support ahead of the Region 5 Games, which included a fully sponsored training camp that helped prepare the athletes for this international stage.
He noted that this is the largest Namibian team to compete at the Junior Worlds in a decade.
Had it not been for entry cut-offs, three additional swimmers who qualified during the Africa Schools Games would have joined.
Special thanks were also extended to local sponsors, including Bank Windhoek and the Pupkewitz Foundation, whose ongoing support of local galas and swim events laid the foundation for the success of Namibia’s elite swimmers.
The Junior World Swimming Championships runs between 19-24 August.