Bright future: Twelve new Namibian records at Junior Worlds 2025
Swimming
The national governing body Nasfed is proud of the performances of its seven swimmers on the highest stage.
Bucharest, Romania –Team Namibia wrapped up an inspiring week of competition at the Junior World Aquatic Swimming Championships, delivering a string of personal bests, national records, and memorable performances across all six days of racing.
Day One – Strong start
The opening day set the tone with Oliver Durand clocking 3:58.57 in the 400m freestyle, breaking both his own 17-18 age group record and the Namibian Open record previously held by Phillip Seidler.
Lorenzo Esterhuizen added another milestone in the 100m backstroke (58.51), setting a new 15-16 age group record.
Other highlights included Ainoa Naukosho’s 400m individual medley (IM) in 5:16.14 and Roselinda Matyayi’s 100m backstroke (1:07.71), reflecting a promising start for the team.
Day Two – More records fall
Durand continued his momentum with a brilliant 200m IM (2:02.81), breaking the Namibian Open and age group records, while also setting a new 200m freestyle age group record (1:52.90).
Jessica Humphrey made history in the 100m backstroke (1:02.84, relay lead-off), breaking both the Open and 17-18 age group records.
Madison Bergh impressed in the 800m freestyle with 9:31.79, a new 15-16 age group record.
Day Three – Youth power and sprint records
Matyayi won her heat in the 50m butterfly (29.51), breaking the 13-14 age group record, while Luke Beukes stormed to a new 17-18 age group record in the 50m freestyle (23.33).
Humphrey and Matyayi also featured in the 200m backstroke, while Esterhuizen recorded a 27.46 in the 50m backstroke.
Day Four – Oliver strikes again
Durand lowered his own age group national record in the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:20.14. Humphrey placed 25th in the 50m backstroke (29.50), while Beukes and Bergh posted strong swims in the 50m fly and 400m freestyle respectively.
Day Five – Record-breaking IM and relay
Durand delivered Namibia’s highest placing of the championship, finishing 12th overall in the 400m IM (4:23.92) and smashing both the national Open and age group records. Esterhuizen followed with a solid 4:43.37 in the same event.
The women’s 4×100m freestyle relay team (Bergh, Humphrey, Matyayi, Naukosho) clocked 4:08.62, setting a new 17-18 age group record.
Final Day – Strong finishes
Esterhuizen opened the final day by winning his 200m backstroke heat (2:08.07), ranking 35th overall. He later swam the 200m butterfly (2:10.16) for 31st place.
Durand placed 27th in the 200m butterfly (2:05.95), while Bergh and Naukosho battled hard in the 200m freestyle, finishing 48th (2:14.62) and 51st (2:15.31) respectively in a large field of 73.
The women’s 4×100m individual medley relay team rounded off Namibia’s campaign with a 4:45.99.
Records summary
In total, Namibian swimmers broke 12 long course national records in Bucharest.
• Oliver Durand – 400m freestyle (Open 17-18), 200m IM (Open 17-18), 200m Free (17-18), 200m breaststroke (17-18), 400m IM (Open 17-18)
• Lorenzo Esterhuizen – 100m backstroke (15-16)
• Jessica Humphrey – 100m backstroke (Open 17-18, relay lead-off)
• Madison Bergh – 800m freestyle (15-16)
• Roselinda Matyayi – 50m butterfly (13-14)
• Luke Beukes – 50m freestyle (17-18)
• Women’s 4×100m freestyle relay – 17-18
Praised
The Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (Nasfed) said: “Team Namibia’s spirited performances, record-breaking swims, and international rankings reflect a growing presence on the world stage. The Junior Worlds in Romania showcased the depth of young Namibian swimming talent and set the foundation for even greater achievements ahead.”
The swimmers were accompanied by Jean-Micheal Leitner (coach) and Chelsea Leitner (team manager).
Day One – Strong start
The opening day set the tone with Oliver Durand clocking 3:58.57 in the 400m freestyle, breaking both his own 17-18 age group record and the Namibian Open record previously held by Phillip Seidler.
Lorenzo Esterhuizen added another milestone in the 100m backstroke (58.51), setting a new 15-16 age group record.
Other highlights included Ainoa Naukosho’s 400m individual medley (IM) in 5:16.14 and Roselinda Matyayi’s 100m backstroke (1:07.71), reflecting a promising start for the team.
Day Two – More records fall
Durand continued his momentum with a brilliant 200m IM (2:02.81), breaking the Namibian Open and age group records, while also setting a new 200m freestyle age group record (1:52.90).
Jessica Humphrey made history in the 100m backstroke (1:02.84, relay lead-off), breaking both the Open and 17-18 age group records.
Madison Bergh impressed in the 800m freestyle with 9:31.79, a new 15-16 age group record.
Day Three – Youth power and sprint records
Matyayi won her heat in the 50m butterfly (29.51), breaking the 13-14 age group record, while Luke Beukes stormed to a new 17-18 age group record in the 50m freestyle (23.33).
Humphrey and Matyayi also featured in the 200m backstroke, while Esterhuizen recorded a 27.46 in the 50m backstroke.
Day Four – Oliver strikes again
Durand lowered his own age group national record in the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:20.14. Humphrey placed 25th in the 50m backstroke (29.50), while Beukes and Bergh posted strong swims in the 50m fly and 400m freestyle respectively.
Day Five – Record-breaking IM and relay
Durand delivered Namibia’s highest placing of the championship, finishing 12th overall in the 400m IM (4:23.92) and smashing both the national Open and age group records. Esterhuizen followed with a solid 4:43.37 in the same event.
The women’s 4×100m freestyle relay team (Bergh, Humphrey, Matyayi, Naukosho) clocked 4:08.62, setting a new 17-18 age group record.
Final Day – Strong finishes
Esterhuizen opened the final day by winning his 200m backstroke heat (2:08.07), ranking 35th overall. He later swam the 200m butterfly (2:10.16) for 31st place.
Durand placed 27th in the 200m butterfly (2:05.95), while Bergh and Naukosho battled hard in the 200m freestyle, finishing 48th (2:14.62) and 51st (2:15.31) respectively in a large field of 73.
The women’s 4×100m individual medley relay team rounded off Namibia’s campaign with a 4:45.99.
Records summary
In total, Namibian swimmers broke 12 long course national records in Bucharest.
• Oliver Durand – 400m freestyle (Open 17-18), 200m IM (Open 17-18), 200m Free (17-18), 200m breaststroke (17-18), 400m IM (Open 17-18)
• Lorenzo Esterhuizen – 100m backstroke (15-16)
• Jessica Humphrey – 100m backstroke (Open 17-18, relay lead-off)
• Madison Bergh – 800m freestyle (15-16)
• Roselinda Matyayi – 50m butterfly (13-14)
• Luke Beukes – 50m freestyle (17-18)
• Women’s 4×100m freestyle relay – 17-18
Praised
The Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (Nasfed) said: “Team Namibia’s spirited performances, record-breaking swims, and international rankings reflect a growing presence on the world stage. The Junior Worlds in Romania showcased the depth of young Namibian swimming talent and set the foundation for even greater achievements ahead.”
The swimmers were accompanied by Jean-Micheal Leitner (coach) and Chelsea Leitner (team manager).
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