Young Kenyan swimmer lands sponsorship in Hungary
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 20.06.25. | 14:45
The 18-year-old will now seek to balance university education and elite-level training
One of Kenya’s brightest prospects Maria Bianchi is set to join one of Europe’s top swimming development programmes after earning a fully funded scholarship to Hungary.
The 18-year-old, this week, landed a place in the Stipendium Hungaricum Sports Scholarship Programme, a competitive initiative by the Hungarian government and World Aquatics, that offers student-athletes from around the world access to quality university education and elite-level training.
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The sponsorship comes as a big boost for the swimmer, who will now work towards making a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Bianchi’s aquatic journey began at Blue Ocean Swimming Club, when she was just 11.
In high school, she dominated the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Swimming Championships, winning seven gold medals in breaststroke and individual medley events.
Felicitation to Maria Bianchi for winning 7 gold medals 🥇 and 1 silver medal 🥈 in the CANA Zone 3 Swimming Championships held in Uganda. pic.twitter.com/aJYTjqu4lI
— Min. of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy & Sports (@moyasa_ke) December 14, 2021
In 2024, she was selected to represent Kenya at the Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Mauritius.
Though she did not return with medals, the experience gave her a taste of high-level competition and pushed her to raise her standards.
Later at the Kenya Aquatics National Swimming Championships, Bianchi was crowned Best Girl in the 16–17 category.
Her personal best in the 50m backstroke is 32.35 seconds and 1:17.10 in the 100m breaststroke.
“Maria’s story speaks to what is possible when discipline and talent meet opportunity,” Kenya Aquatics Technical Director Omar Ali said of Bianchi's sponsorship.
“It should send a message to swimmers across the country that the world is within reach.”
Coach Ahmed Mohammed, who guided Maria at Blue Ocean and leads Team Kenya’s team on the other hand said: “This scholarship is well deserved.
Hungary will give her a new environment to grow, and I know she’ll make the most of it. Our major focus as a club is to support her along the pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”
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