Day 2 of the Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships was electric for Team Namibia. With the sun shining over Cairo and cheers echoing through the stadium, Namibia’s swimmers put on a show of passion, progress and podium-worthy performances during the fourth session.
The highlight of the day came early as Oliver Durand (18) surged through the men’s 200m individual medley, capturing gold with a stunning time of 2:04.51. Not only did he take the top spot – he also broke the Namibian 17-18 age group record, making this a historic swim for the team. Right alongside him, Lorenzo Esterhuizen (16) made his mark too, finishing a strong 7th in the same final.
Durand returned later for the men’s 200m freestyle, holding his own once again with a 4th place finish, proving his consistency across multiple events. In the 100m butterfly, Luke Beukes (17) gave it his all and landed 8th place in a fast and competitive final.
On the women’s side, Namibian backstrokers turned heads. Jessica Humphrey (17) snatched silver in the 50m backstroke with a time of 29.85, setting a new Namibian record for the 17-18 age group.
Not far behind, Roselinda Matyayi (15) powered to a 5th place finish – and in doing so, broke the Namibian record for 14-15 girls in the same event. Two records in one race – a massive moment for Namibia’s future stars.
Lorenzo Esterhuizen returned once more for the men’s 50m backstroke, rounding off a packed day with an 8th place finish.
Distance events brought more excitement. Madison Bergh (16) and Maja Brinkmann (18) showed mental and physical strength in the women’s 800m freestyle, placing 6th and 8th respectively. Earlier that morning in prelims, Liam Kinnaird (17) took to the water in the men’s 800m freestyle, clocking a solid 9:35.90, gaining experience and confidence for the long haul.
In the mixed 4x100m medley relay, Team Namibia unfortunately faced a disqualification, but spirits remained high. The team stood united, with smiles, high-fives, and the kind of camaraderie that makes this championship so special.
Day 2 Summary for Namibia:
Medals won:
Gold: Oliver Durand – Men’s 200m individual medley
Silver: Jessica Humphrey – Women’s 50m backstroke
National records broken:
Oliver Durand – Men’s 200m individual medley (17–18 age group)
Jessica Humphrey – Women’s 50m backstroke (17–18 age group)
Roselinda Matyayi – Women’s 50m backstroke (14–15 age group)
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