Africa-Press – Namibia. The Bank Windhoek/Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (NASFED) Long Course Swimming Championships kick off today at the Olympia Swimming pool in Windhoek.
The event will conclude on Sunday, 22 February 2026.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at the same venue.
This national event brings together 230 of Namibia’s top swimmers, representing clubs from Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Oranjemund, respectively, as they compete for national titles, records and qualification times.
The five-day championships will feature various disciplines and distances, including freestyle, individual medley, freestyle relay, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
This year’s edition stands out due to record participation, with 230 athletes, including master swimmers, with the event recording 1 805 individual entries and 105 relay entries.
Bernadette Freyer-Swartz, spokesperson of NASFED, said the scale of participation reflects the growth of competitive swimming in Namibia and the increasing excitement surrounding the sport.
“This is the first time in recent years that the nationals are scheduled earlier in the season, giving athletes a crucial opportunity to chase qualifying times for international events. This is also the first time that the Long Course will feature heats followed by finals, aligning with international standards,” said Freyer-Swartz.
Several athletes will be aiming to break national records and secure qualifying times for upcoming national and international championships, including open water events.
“This is a great opportunity for preparation and selection for the Commonwealth Games, the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Championships and World Aquatics Championships. Nationals provide swimmers with the chance to achieve qualifying times before entry deadlines, making this edition especially high-stakes,” she added.
The Long Course (50m) format is particularly significant, as it mirrors the conditions of major continental and international competitions. Training and racing in this format help Namibian swimmers refine their pacing, turns and endurance, ensuring they are prepared for the global stage.
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