Young Swimmers Head to Pretoria for SSA Level 3 Championships
A team of 21 promising Namibian swimmers departed for Pretoria this week to compete in the 2026 SSA Level 3 age-group championship, taking place from 26 to 29 March.
Selected and endorsed by the NASFED selection committee and executive committee, the athletes will represent Namibia at one of the region’s premier age-group competitions. Their inclusion reflects not only talent, but also the dedication and discipline required to compete at this level.
The squad consists of Paul Archer, Katja Dippenaar, Nele Erni, Guoxuan (Jimmy) Huang, Sophia Husselmann, Jana Kathena, Joshua Klukowski, Yuchen (Lucas) Lin, Aaliyah Losper, Scarlett McNamara, Peter Ndjeke, Owen Rijnen, Keanu Roux, Larissa Shaetonhodi, Alexis Stoffberg, Caleb Swartz, Samuel Swartz, Zandro Thirion, Namasiku van der Linden, Christiaan van der Westhuizen and Lyia Williams.
Leading the team is head coach Adriaan Maritz, whose experience continues to nurture emerging talent, alongside team manager Elizabe “Libby” Thirion, who will oversee the athletes’ welfare throughout the competition.
The Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (NASFED) has commended the swimmers for their commitment and resilience, emphasising that the championships present an opportunity not only to compete for medals, but also to gain valuable international experience.
The federation also recognised the vital role played by parents, coaches and the wider swimming community in supporting the athletes’ development.
As the competition gets underway, Namibia will be watching with pride, backing the team in every race and celebrating each achievement in the pool.
