Namibian swimmers were in fine form at the Junior World Aquatic Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania, breaking a total of 15 new national long-course records.
Oliver Durand led the way with five 17-to-18 age group and three open category records, while he was also Namibia’s top-ranked swimmer at the championships which took place from 19 to 24 August.
On the opening day, Durand set the tone by clocking 3:58.57 in the 400m freestyle, breaking both his own 17-to-18 age group record and the Namibian open record previously held by Phillip Seidler.
On 20 August, Durand once again broke the Namibian open and age group records in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:02.81, while he also set a new 200m freestyle age group record of 1:52.90.
On 22 August, Durand broke his own 200m breaststroke age group record with a new time of 2:20.14, while he achieved Namibia’s highest placing at the championships the next day when he came 12th overall in the 400m individual medley in 4:23.92, which smashed both the Namibian open and age group records.
Durand also placed 27th overall in the 200m butterfly in a time of 2:05.95.
Jessica Humphrey broke both the national 17-to-18 age group and open records in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1:02.84, while she came 25th overall in the 50m backstroke in a time of 29.50.
Humphrey also formed part of the Namibian women’s 4x100m freestyle team, along with Madison Bergh, Roselinda Matyayi and Ainoa Naukosho, that set a new 17-to-18 age group record of 4:08:62.
Bergh set a new 15-to-16 age group record of 9:31.79 in the 800m freestyle, while she came 48th overall in the 200m freestyle in a time of 2:14.62.
Roselinda Matyayi broke the 13-to-14-year-old 50m butterfly record with a new time of 29.51, while she also set impressive times in the 100m backstroke of 1:07.71 and the 200m backstroke of 2:28:48.
Lorenzo Esterhuizen set a new 15-to-16 100m backstroke record of 58.51 seconds, while he ranked 31st overall in the 200m butterfly with a time of 2:10.16, and 35th overall in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:08.07.
Luke Beukes set a new 17-to-18-year-ld 50m freestyle record of 23.33 seconds, while he also set an impressive time of 25.58 in the 50m butterfly.
Ainoa Naukosho finished 51st overall in the 200m freestyle in 2:15.31, while she also set an impressive time of 5:16.14 in the 400m individual medley.
“Team Namibia’s spirited performances, record-breaking swims, and international rankings reflect a growing presence on the world stage.
“The Junior Worlds in Romania showcased the depth of young Namibian swimming talent and set the foundation for even greater achievements ahead,” the Namibia Swimming Federation says in a press release.
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