Neo Olengo in action during a past championship/ HANDOUTKenya will field a 40-member squad at the Africa Aquatics Swimming Championships in Ghana this May as the country targets a strong showing at the continent’s premier swimming event, Kenya Aquatics technical director Omar Omari has confirmed.
The six-day continental championship will run from May 5 to 10, 2026, at the ultra-modern Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, a venue that has become a major hub for international aquatic events in West Africa.
This year’s championships will be staged under a modified competition format for the first time, bringing together Seniors, Juniors and Masters alongside the Inter-Zonal Championships.
The new structure is designed to broaden participation and raise the overall standard of competition, allowing emerging swimmers to race against Africa’s best while also offering veteran athletes a platform to remain competitive.
Omari said Kenya intends to field its strongest possible team across all categories. “This is a big championship, and we want to take the best of our swimmers across all categories, and I am confident we can perform against the giants of the sport on the continent,” Omari said.
The Bureau of Africa Aquatics has praised Ghana for its continued commitment to the growth and development of aquatic sports in Africa, citing the country’s investment in facilities, event hosting and technical support as a model for other federations.
Omari urged Kenyan swimmers, including those based abroad, to begin preparations early for the championships, which are expected to attract athletes from all 54 African nations.
He added that the national federation will soon release the official selection criteria to guide structured planning, including early applications for government funding and logistical arrangements.
The technical director also called on masters swimmers to prepare for the inaugural Africa Aquatics Masters Swimming Championships, which will be held alongside the main event.
He recalled the pledge made by Africa Aquatics President Mohammed Diop during his visit to Kenya last year, when he confirmed that masters swimming would be fully integrated into the continental programme.
Dr Diop, himself an active masters swimmer, impressed many after clocking 27 seconds in the 50-metre freestyle despite being over 60, a performance that underlined the competitiveness and spirit expected to define the new masters category.
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