Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA’s swimmers delivered a series of impressive performances at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with national records, personal bests and a historic relay final appearance highlighting the team’s campaign.
The men’s 200m freestyle saw three Namibian swimmers compete against a highly competitive Commonwealth field, with Oliver Durand leading the team’s results by finishing 22nd in a time of 1:52.53, setting a new Namibian 17–18 age-group record.
Luke Beukes placed 24th after clocking 1:54.51, while José Canjulo finished 28th in 1:56.35.
Reflecting on the experience of competing against some of the world’s best swimmers, Canjulo said the biggest lesson he would take home was the importance of mental strength.
“I think the biggest thing I’m going to take away is my mental game, learning more about that competition. I still learn it every day. Competition is 90% mental and 10% physical, so working on my mental game is what we’re taking back,” he said.
Canjulo also encouraged young swimmers in Namibia to remain focused and enjoy the sport.
“To the young swimmers back home, it’s just to be true to yourself and always keep enjoying it. Stay true to yourself, don’t change yourself for anyone. Just keep enjoying what you’re doing and always believe you can give 100% every day,” he said.
Durand’s performance was also praised by coach John Leiter, who highlighted the confidence and determination shown by the Namibian swimmers throughout the competition.
“What really stood out for me is the way the swimmers stood on the blocks confidently and went for it, having determination, focus and self-belief. As a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of these five swimmers,” Leiter said.
He added that seeing Namibian swimmers reach Commonwealth semi-finals and finals marked a significant milestone.
“Recently I had a team meeting with Team Namibia and I said as a coach you also have dreams, ambitions and goals. This has definitely been one of the boxes, and now I can finally say I ticked it off,” Leiter said.
Leiter said the experience had provided valuable lessons for the future development of swimming in Namibia.
“Going back home, we have a lot to learn from other nations and to see where our swimmers are now and how much more work we can do. The next four years will be big, especially for the younger swimmers who are here,” he said.
Namibia’s swimmers also produced a standout performance in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final, with Oliver Durand, Ronan Wantenaar, José Canjulo and Luke Beukes finishing eighth in 3:44.58 and setting a new Namibian Open Record.
The result placed Namibia among the eight fastest Commonwealth relay teams and capped a memorable campaign for the country’s swimmers.
Despite the eighth-place finish, the team’s performance demonstrated Namibia’s growing presence on the international swimming stage, with national records and breakthrough performances providing optimism for the future of the sport.
The Namibia National Olympic Committee praised the swimmers for their commitment and achievement, saying the future of Namibian swimming had never looked brighter.
Photo: Namibia National Olympic Committee
