Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Swimming interim committee coordinator Rumbidzai Mahobele is confident the team for the 17th Africa Aquatics Senior and Junior Swimming Championships will deliver some podium performances.
The Senior and Junior Championships will run concurrently from May 5 to 10 in Oran, Algeria.
Zimbabwe are going to field a 10-member team, and it is a blend of experienced and rising talent.
The spotlight will no doubt be on the likes of Olympian Paige Van Der Westhuizen, who is the women’s captain and Anje Van As, a gold medallist at the 2025 Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
They will compete in the senior championships while for the juniors, Zimbabwe will be represented by gold medallist at the African Youth Games Alexis Johnsen, Neema Bhulabhai and Mikayla Makwabarara.
On the men’s side, captain Paul Mwipikeni and Ashley Berejena will compete in the seniors.
They will be joined by Teak Watson, Connor Grist and Musawakhe Ncube for the junior championships.
“We are pleased with the balance and depth of this 10-member squad.
“The team comprises five female and five male athletes, ensuring equal gender representation. For the Senior Championships we have two women and two men competing, while the Junior Championships will see three women and three men in action.
“Geographically, the squad reflects both local strength and our diaspora: two swimmers are UK-based, two are South Africa-based, and six are Zimbabwe-based.
“Of those six, four train in Harare Province, one in Bulawayo, and one in Matabeleland South. This composition gives us experienced international exposure combined with strong homegrown talent across three provinces,” said Mahobele.
Most of the events on the national scene are done and for the locally-based swimmers, focus will be mainly on training ahead of their departure to Algeria.
“All six Zimbabwe-based swimmers will continue structured training through the remainder of April as they enter their taper phase for Algeria.
“Importantly, each athlete has access to heated facilities, so training quality won’t be compromised as temperatures drop.
“Programmes will remain with their respective club coaches to ensure continuity, with oversight from the national coaching panel to align tapering and race preparation.”
Based on the performances the swimmers have been posting, Mahobele believes they are good to go.
“Performances across the squad have been exceptional this season, with notable national record breakthroughs. On the women’s side, all five athletes have set new national records: Paige Van Der Westhuizen recently broke Kirsty Coventry’s 50m freestyle record, one of seven National Open records she has set this season.
“Alexis Johnsen has lowered seven freestyle records in her age group, while Mikayla Makwabarara set a new 50m freestyle short-course age-group record.
“Anje Van As broke the age-group record in the 200m butterfly, and Neema Bhulabhai set a new mark in the 100m breaststroke.
“Our men have been equally impressive. Teak Watson broke the 50m breaststroke record in his age group.
“Paul Mwipikeni has returned strongly after a brief break. Ashley Berejena, Musawakhe Ncube, and Connor Grist are all tracking very well heading into Algeria.”
The continental competition presents an opportunity for the swimmers to measure their progress against some of the best in Africa and as well as pursue podium performances.
Van As has already had a feel of what it is like after scooping a gold medal in the 200m butterfly and two bronze in the 100m and 50m as a junior last year.
Mahobele, said they are mainly looking at their swimmers setting new personal best times, and new national records.
“For our top-ranked swimmers, finals appearances are a realistic target, and podium finishes are within reach if they execute their race plans.
“Ultimately, we want every swimmer to leave Algeria knowing they represented Zimbabwe with distinction,” she added.
Initially the competition was scheduled to take place in Ghana before being moved to Algeria.
