President of the Namibia Swimming Federation, Riaan Steyn, has praised the outstanding performance of Namibian swimmers at the 2024 Region 5 Games, saying the athletes exceeded expectations in both results and competitiveness.

“The swimmers were fantastic and performed exactly as we had hoped – if not better. We were pleasantly surprised by just how competitive they were against some of the region’s top talent,” Steyn said.

He attributed the team’s success to a well-organised 10-day training camp held prior to the event, during which the athletes also received physiotherapy and other support services to prepare them for peak performance.

“The athletes were well prepared thanks to the training camp, and we must also give credit to the organisers of the event, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the swimming facilities met high standards,” he added.

Medal standings

South Africa dominated the swimming competition, topping the medal table with an impressive 49 medals: 21 gold, 21 silver, and 7 bronze.

Namibia came in a strong second, racking up a total of 30 medals: 10 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze.

Zimbabwe followed in third place with 13 medals (3 gold, 3 silver, and 7 bronze), while Botswana finished fourth with 7 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze). 

Zambia placed fifth with 4 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze), Mozambique secured 4 bronze medals, and Eswatini ended with 1 bronze.

Looking ahead, Steyn highlighted a packed calendar for Namibian swimmers. From 26 July to 5 August, Algerian capital Algiers will host the inaugural African School Games, where Namibian athletes are expected to feature prominently.

In addition, the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships will take place from 19 to 24 August in Otopeni, Romania, providing another platform for Namibia’s youth swimmers to showcase their talents.

Before that, from 11 July to 3 August, top Namibian swimmers will compete at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, further solidifying the country’s growing presence in international swimming arenas.

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na