Kenya Aquatics will host a high-performance training camp in April aimed at shaping the country’s next generation of swimming champions.
The camp will bring together more than 100 of the nation’s most promising young swimmers, aged between nine and 17 years, during the school holidays.
KA Technical Director Omar Omari said the break presents an ideal opportunity to assemble the country’s top talent under one roof and provide them with focused, professional support.
“By concentrating elite young swimmers in one camp, supported by a team of specialised coaches and modern training equipment, Kenya can begin to close the gap with the world’s leading swimming nations and build a clear pathway to international success,” Omari said.
He outlined a demanding two-week programme built around high-intensity training, structured learning and competitive simulation. The goal, he explained, is to identify, refine and support swimmers with the potential to represent Kenya at the highest level, while also creating a culture of excellence that will lift the entire sport.
The young athletes will follow a rigorous daily routine, with long training sessions in the pool every morning and afternoon. The programme is designed to be tough and disciplined, testing their limits and pushing them beyond what they are accustomed to in their home clubs.
Beyond physical preparation, the camp will also focus on the swimmers’ holistic development. Omari noted that strong emphasis will be placed on mental strength, education and long-term growth.
“Swimmers will be guided on proper training habits, nutrition, strength and conditioning, race skills and technique, giving them knowledge they can carry throughout their careers,” he said.
Kenya Aquatics’ second Vice President, Hillary Leboy, threw his full support behind the initiative, drawing from his experience at the inaugural Africa Aquatics High Performance Swimming Training Camp held in South Africa two years ago.
He said the exposure demonstrated what is possible when young swimmers are placed in a high-performance environment. Leboy noted that South Africa remains one of the strongest swimming nations on the continent, largely due to its structured high-performance camp system.
He cited Neo Olengo as a clear example of how the model is already delivering results, adding that a similar approach can succeed in Kenya if coaches and teams work together.
He stressed that no single coach or club holds all the answers. “Some coaches excel in sprinting, others in underwater work and dives, while others are strong in strength and conditioning,” Leboy said. “When these skills are combined rather than competed against, Kenya can build a team capable of dominating Africa.”
Leboy challenged swimming stakeholders to reflect on what is missing in the sport and urged them to seize the opportunity presented by the camp to help shape a stronger future for Kenyan swimming.
by WILLIAM NJUGUNA
