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Uganda’s Gators Swim Club top at Kenya Aquatics National Swimming Gala
Jabari Mwagiru,11, from Little Fish Swim Club (left), Nygel Jayden, 10, from Bandari Swim Club, and Jedidah Muriithi,11, from Mombasa Aquatics celebrate after participating in the 100m freestyle race on May 31, 2025.
Uganda’s Gators Swim Club emerged as the overall winners of the Kenya Aquatics National Swimming Championship which concluded on Sunday after three days of intense competition at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium in Nairobi.
Based in Kampala, Gators topped the medal table with 28 gold, 27 silver, and 19 bronze.
Braeburn Swimming Club from Nairobi County came second with 26 gold, 21 silver, and 14 bronze, while Torpedo Swimming Club from Uasin Gishu wrapped up the podium places with 13 gold, six silver, and three bronze medals.
Sixty-nine teams drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and Madagascar competed in the three-day event which took place between May 30 and June 1.
The championship showcased skill, passion, and talent, with several meet records falling.
One of the standout performers was Nadia Vusha,13, from Eldoret-based Torpedo Swim Club. She broke the 50-metres backstroke meet record with an impressive time of 37.00 seconds, beating the previous record of 37.19 seconds.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for three years. It feels amazing, and I hope this is just the beginning of my journey to the Olympics,” said Nadia.
In the long-distance events, Nygel Jayden of Bandari Swim Club clinched gold in the 1500m freestyle. He clocked a time of 22 minutes and 27 seconds, smashing the old meet record of 23:57. His sterling performance underscored the growing depth of talent in Kenya’s swimming community.
Looking ahead, Paul Mungai, a representative of water polo, the next discipline on the Kenya Aquatics calendar, commended the growing popularity of the sport in the country.
“Water polo is gaining momentum in Kenya. We are running clinics across the country to boost awareness and build a strong base for the sport,” he said.
Mungai emphasised that water polo, being a team sport, offers a valuable platform for athletes who may not succeed in individual swimming events or are transitioning from competitive swimming.
Kenya Aquatics executive member Kahindo Mureithi hailed the participation of international teams and swimmers from over six Kenyan counties including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, and Machakos.
“The level of competition and diversity on display was inspiring. County governments must now step up to support this momentum through better infrastructure and programs,” he urged.
Finance Co-ordinator Liz Matimu echoed similar sentiments, commending the high turnout and strong youth performances. She expressed optimism about the sport's future and called for sustained government support in upcoming events.
The next major competition on the Kenya Aquatics calendar is the Water Polo Championship on July 12, also set for Kasarani.
Kenya is also set to host the Africa Zone 3 Swimming Championship in October.
Meanwhile, Kiambu County Aquatics Public Relations Officer Nesmas Mbati applauded local associations for organising regular competitions that continue to raise swimming standards.
He invited young swimmers to participate in the Kiambu County Aquatics Minnows Championship for ages nine and below, scheduled for June 14 at Potterhouse School in Runda. Genesis Sports Limited and Zetech University will sponsor the event.