Swimming sensation Olengo sets personal best, eyes Olympic Games qualification

Thirteen-year-old swimmer Neo Olengo on Saturday left the Kenyan swimming fans and organization in awe after breaking out to an impressive personal best time in the boys’ 50-meter freestyle category.

Olengo, who swims for Machakos-based Seahorses Aquatics Club, set a record time of 26.91 seconds during the recently concluded Kiambu Inter-County Swimming Championships held at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika.

His performance was not an outlier, as Seahorses ended up dominating the event entering its second edition on the day, picking up a total of 79 medals, with Swift Kids Swim Club from Kisumu coming in second with 68 medals.

Super Marlins Swim Club from Kiambu rounded off the podium positions with 58 medals.

The fact that American swimmer Caeleb Dressel holds the world record in a time of 20.24 seconds, and legendary Michael Phelps’ best time in the same event stands at 22.93 seconds, seemed to reflect not only the hidden talent in the country but the potential to threaten world-leading times.

Seahorses Aquatics dominate Kiambu Inter County Swimming Championships as Leboy family delight in 'double joy'

“This shows that we need to emphasize the importance of junior levels in rebuilding sports,” Eng. Peter Mwangangi, Olengo’s coach and head coach of the Kenyan team for the upcoming Eighth Africa Aquatics Zone Three Swimming Championships in Kigali, Rwanda said. “I have always admired the commitment Neo has, and I am sure he will be among the swimmers we will heavily rely on in the future.”

Olengo hopes that he will participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, with Mwangangi noting the federation's ongoing efforts in identifying and meticulously monitoring Kenya's top young talents.

Bianchi leads Kenyan team to Africa Junior Swimming Championships

“I am confident that this strategy will pave the way for assembling a strong team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and strengthen national teams in various disciplines,” he added.

Kenya’s first stab at the international meets will see 35 swimmers take part in the aforementioned Africa Games in Kigali that kick off next week, with departure with officials scheduled for 21 November 2023.