Zim Swimming plan ahead

Ellina Mhlanga

Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE Swimming are going a gear up in their efforts to prepare for regional and international competitions with a national camp scheduled for April next year.

The camp will bring together about 40 swimmers earmarked for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games in Mozambique.

The Youth Olympics are scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026 in Senegal while the Region 5 Games are slated for December 4 to 13, 2026 in Mozambique. Initially they had hoped to hold the camp between December and January but Zimbabwe Swimming chairperson Zanele Nkomazana said they had to reconsider. “We were supposed to have a camp in January but the calendar is just congested . . . So, we postponed that camp to April,” Nkomazana said.

“We think it’s better because even if you put them into training now, they can’t train because their bodies need a bit of rest.”

Some of the swimmers were part of Team Zimbabwe for the fourth African Youth Games in Angola.

Nkomazana said they are still finalising the venue for the week-long camp, but they would want to hold it outside Harare.

They have engaged a coach from the United States, Abbie Fish to assist with the camp working with one of the local coaches Lindsy Tudor-Cole.

“We have spoken to a coach in America. Her name is Abbie Fish. She is going to come down and assist us, she is a specialist in these camps.

“We have engaged her to work with Lindsy Tudor-Cole and do a national camp. That should be beneficial also to our local coaches, not just the swimmers.

“We are looking at 40 swimmers from both squads combined . . . It will be a short list for the Youth Olympic Games and a long list for the AUSC Games. But obviously, swimmers like Alexis Johnsen will be in both lists,” said Nkomazana. Swimming had 14 athletes in Namibia for the African Youth Games, and they got five medals — one gold, one silver and three bronze. Johnsen was outstanding, claiming a gold medal and two bronze in her individual events. She also helped the 4x100m freestyle relay team win silver.

Reflecting on the first half of the season and the African Youth Games, the Zimbabwe Swimming chairperson is hoping they can build on the performances from various competitions and also improve in some areas. “This is a sign of where we are. We need to push Alexis more for the Youth Olympic Games… We hope she can improve further to get a podium performance at the world stage in Senegal.

“I was impressed by Neema Bhulabhai in the 100m breaststroke.

“I think she is next in line after Alexis Johnsen, in my opinion. We still need to see more of the boys.

“They all struggled a bit but their swims were within their PBs (personal best time), so as a country, we need to improve on boys. “And basically, on senior swimmers, we have lost a lot of senior swimmers to other sport codes. We really need to up our game in the boys swimming,” Nkomazana said.

For most swimmers, the focus will be on the Junior and Senior National Championships when they return from the holiday break. The juniors’ meet is due to take place from January 23 to 25 in Mutare and the seniors’ competition is slated for February 19 to 22 in Harare.