Kenya’s swimmers continued their dominance at the ANOCA Zone Five Youth Games in Nairobi, topping the swimming medal standings with 12 gold, 10 silver and one bronze for 23 medals after two days of competition.
The hosts produced strong performances across the 14-17 age-group events, with Macrine Kalombo, Isabelle Mwangi, Yannick Muigai, Jeremy Rieck and Lisa Kamphuis among the leading performers.
Kalombo was particularly impressive, winning the women’s 100m freestyle in 1:03.01 before adding gold in the 50m breaststroke in 37.05.
Mwangi also struck gold in the 50m freestyle in 29.01, having earlier taken silver behind Kalombo in the 100m freestyle.
Kenya swept the men’s 200m freestyle podium, with Kamphuis taking gold in 2:08.68, ahead of teammate Isaiah Gitonga in 2:09.45.
Rieck added two more gold medals in the men’s 50m and 100m butterfly, winning the 50m in 25.66 and the 100m in 58.83, with Andrew Ogola taking silver in both events.
Lisa Kamphuis also contributed gold in the women’s 50m backstroke in 33.12, while taking silver in the 50m butterfly in 30.70.
Kenya’s depth was further demonstrated in the relays, with the mixed 4x100m freestyle quartet of Rieck, Gitonga, Kalombo and Mwangi winning in 4:04.20.
The hosts also claimed gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay in 4:51.08.
The performance builds on Kenya’s strong opening day in the pool, when the hosts had already amassed six gold and six silver medals, underlining their early dominance before adding further medals on the second day.
Uganda finished a distant second with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals, while Rwanda collected six bronze medals.
Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan each had one bronze.
Swimming Competitions co-director Collins Marigiri said the strong performances reflected the depth of Kenya’s junior swimming programme.
He said the Games provide an important platform for young swimmers to gain international exposure and test themselves against regional opposition.
“The performances are providing valuable competition for the young athletes as they seek to strengthen their credentials for future international competitions and the Dakar Youth Olympic Games,” he observed