Kenyans splash their way into swimming history

By OSCAR PILIPILI

"Sometimes there are no sweet words to describe an achievement, but being the first Kenyan woman to claim a continental medal is just amazing."

Those were the words of swimming sensation Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, 14, after she finished third to claim a 100m freestyle bronze (58.72) at the African Swimming Championships in South Africa.

The UK-based swimmer was ecstatic after she broke the jinx of Kenyan women’s failure to bag a continental medal in the history of swimming.

Aquatic wonder: Jason Dunford during the Beijing Olympic Games. The 21-year-old has bagged two gold and a silver medal in the ongoing African Swimming Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photos: File/Standard

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honours

Team manager Winnie Kamau said they expect more medals on Tuesday with Dunford swimming in his specialities, 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

Others to swim are Ajulu-Achieng (50m free) and Akshay Shah (200m backstroke).

Home girl Melissa Corfe collected the first gold medal of the six-day showpiece, when she took the honors in the 100 meters freestyle in 58.10 followed by Tunisian Sarra Chahed (58.21) and Ajulu-Bushell (58.76).

The Kenyans fired a warning shot when seven of their swimmers reached respective finals on the first day of competition.

Mombasa-based swimmer Sylvia Brunlehner broke three national records in the 50m backstroke that she finished sixth in a time of 33.25. The time was better than the previous open and junior record of 34.19 set by Ajulu in 2007.

She also erased 14-15 age category record of 34.57 until then held by Rachita Shah who is also a member of the team. Shah was eighth in the race.

Coach Fakhry Mansoor said they are missing Dunford’s younger brother- David- who won two gold and silver in Senegal.

"We wish he were here but still we’re hopeful of surpassing the Senegal results when Kenya won nine medals," Mansoor said.

"What we need to do is to encourage our girls to win medals," said the coach.