Aquatic union brace for a big splash next year Denilson Cyprianos represented the country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (File picture)

Ellina Mhlanga, Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE Aquatic Union are looking at building on some of the positives picked during the year as the 2024-2025 season takes shape.

Some of the provinces have already begun their activities and the national association has a packed calendar for the 2024–2025 season with local water polo and swimming events to take place across the country as well as international and regional competitions.

Some of the major competitions include the postponed Africa Aquatics Zone IV Swimming and Open Water Championships set for Namibia, in December.

Next year’s edition for the same event is expected to take place in May in Eswatini.

It will be followed by the African Union Sports Council Region Five Games in June.

For swimming, local events such as the Junior and Senior Championships scheduled for early January and February respectively will be key in the selection of the teams

However, the national association’s immediate assignment is the postponed Africa Aquatics Zone IV Swimming and Open Water Championships set for Namibia, in December.

ZAU president Onismo Nhondova said they are assembling a team of 28 swimmers to take part.

“So, the 2024-25 season has kicked off.

“The 2024-25 season is going to be very busy, which is good for our athletes. We have a lot of national, regional and international competitions lined up, catering for all levels of athletes.

“We have the World Aquatics Championships (in Singapore) for our elite athletes for both swimming and water polo, national and regional competitions for the other levels.

“The Africa Aquatics (AA) Zone IV 2024 edition was moved to December 2024, Namibia, with the 2025 edition being held in the normal window in May 2025, Eswatini.

“It was supposed to be hosted by Mozambique but they later said they were not able to host. It was then moved to Namibia and Namibia Swimming Federation needed more time to prepare for the Championships,” said Nhondova.

“We are going to send athletes to all the competitions. For the AA Zone IV in Namibia, a team of twenty-eight swimmers is being assembled, with five taking part in the Open Water Championships.”

ZAU are going to have the first national event for swimming next weekend when Mutare hosts the National Swimming Sprint Gala.

“We have several provincial and national competitions lined up to prepare our athletes. Coming soon is the National Swimming Sprint Gala to be held in Mutare from 18 to 20 October.”

Some of the positives for ZAU from the 2023-2024 season include the inclusion of their swimmers for the delayed African Games in Accra, Ghana were swimming contributed some medals including a gold won by United States-based swimmer Denilson Cyprianos in the men’s 200m backstroke.

Cyprianos went on to represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games together with Paige van der Westhuizen.

They also had two water polo teams participating at World Aquatics Championships and Nhondova said they were pleased with the steady growth of open water swimming with support from World Aquatics and Africa Aquatics.

While they are looking at building on some of these positives, Nhondova admitted they have faced setbacks that include lack of facilities, which remain key if sport in the country is to realise its full potential.

“There are a lot of non-operating swimming pools around the country. If these were resuscitated, we could have more people taking part in swimming. We only have safe open water in four provinces.

“Aquatics sport is relatively expensive to run and participate in compared to other sporting disciplines. We hope to find sponsors to assist in funding activities as most costs are currently being met by athletes and/or their parents,” said Nhondova.

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