Namibian long course nationals end with excitement

Swimming
Namibian swimmers impress with outstanding performances at the Long Course Nationals
Brian Munango
  • 1 Day Ago

The Bank Windhoek/NASFED Long Course Namibian National Swimming Championships concluded on Sunday after five days of exhilarating competition at the Olympia Swimming Pool in Windhoek.


From Wednesday’s opening heats to Sunday’s finals, athletes delivered exceptional performances, demonstrating resilience, focus, and determination throughout the championships.


Speaking at the event, NASFED treasurer and executive committee member Roney Feris emphasised the importance of the championships. “This is the Long Course Nationals, held once a year, and it marks the close of the long course season. Several national records were broken, including under-16 boys and mixed relay teams, as well as under-12 boys in the 1500m freestyle.

This event serves as a stepping stone to the international season starting in March, with competitions in South Africa and the open water national championships in Jeffreys Bay. The participation of eight clubs and over 230 athletes demonstrates the growth and development of swimming in Namibia. The effort and preparation by the swimmers since the start of the season have truly paid off.”


Team Standings

  1. Dolphins Swimming Club dominated with a combined 4,706 points, taking first place.
  2. Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club followed with 2,628 points, demonstrating impressive depth across age groups.
  3. Marlins Swimming Club completed the podium with 561 points.


Individual Highlights

  1. Junior Victrix Ludorum: Ainoa Naukosho (Dolphins) – 174 points
  2. Junior Victor Ludorum: Riley Bergh (Aqua) – 158 points
  3. Senior Victrix Ludorum: Jessica Humphrey (Aqua) – 3,849 FINA points
  4. Senior Victor Ludorum: Oliver Durand (Dolphins) – 4,060 FINA points
  5. Single Best Performance: José Canjulo (Dolphins) – 744 FINA points in Boys 19 & Over 50m Breaststroke


Record-Breaking Performances

  1. Patrick Durand (Dolphins) set new 12 & Under records in the 800m freestyle (10:11.55) and 1500m freestyle (19:16.38).
  2. Oliver Durand (Dolphins) broke the 17–18 100m butterfly record with a time of 55.30 seconds.
  3. Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club relay teams set new national marks in the 15–16 Girls 200m freestyle (1:56.38) and medley relay (2:10.13), as well as the 15–16 Boys 200m freestyle (1:40.86) and medley relay (1:51.85).
  4. Mixed relay records were achieved by Aqua (15–16 200m freestyle – 1:47.09) and Dolphins (Open 200m freestyle – 1:46.80).
  5. NASFED Long Course Record: Aqua’s 17–18 Mixed 200m freestyle relay team (Beukes, Kapapa, Humphrey, Kapapa) clocked 1:46.74.


These achievements highlight both individual brilliance and the collective strength of Namibian swimming. The championships showcased emerging stars alongside seasoned athletes, underscoring NASFED’s commitment to growing aquatic sports nationwide.


NASFED PRO Standings


Junior Victor Ludorum

  1. Riley Bergh (Aqua) – 158 points
  2. Patrick Durand (Dolphins) – 143 points
  3. Oelof Badenhorst – 119 points

Junior Victrix Ludorum

  1. Ainoa Naukosho (Dolphins) – 174 points
  2. Roze van Wyk (Marlins) – 159 points
  3. Xinyue Huang (Dolphins) – 157 points

Senior Victor Ludorum

  1. Oliver Durand (Dolphins) – 4,060 FINA points
  2. José Canjulo (Dolphins) – 4,000 FINA points
  3. Luke Beukes (Aqua) – 3,696 FINA points

Senior Victrix Ludorum

  1. Jessica Humphrey (Aqua) – 3,849 FINA points
  2. Vitoria De Sousa (Dolphins) – 3,464 FINA points
  3. Roselinda Matyayi (Aqua) – 3,413 FINA points

Single Best Performance

  1. José Canjulo – 744 FINA points for Boys 19 & Over 50m Breaststroke


Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club’s Jessica Humphrey claimed gold in all her events during the championships. Speaking after her 100m stroke victory, she said, “A gold medal is always nice, but I am focused on improving my times. I’m happy with where I am in the season, but there are still weeks of training ahead for upcoming international championships. Competing in events like the 400m freestyle, where I managed to shave a couple of seconds off my usual time, is really motivating.”


NASFED extends sincere gratitude to Bank Windhoek for their continued support, to the officials and volunteers for their tireless dedication, and to the athletes and families whose commitment made this event memorable.


The 2026 Bank Windhoek/NASFED Long Course Championships have once again highlighted the talent, resilience, and promise of Namibian swimmers, setting the stage for a strong international season ahead.