Kenya confirms 74-year-old Kariuki for Kampala swimming showdown

Kenya’s national masters swimming team has confirmed that 74-year-old Esther Kariuki will compete in the upcoming 11th edition of the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Championship in Kampala, Uganda, with dates and venues yet to be confirmed.

Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Kariuki, who now competes under United Swim Club, a growing masters swimming team with about 50 members, most aged 25 and above, thanked her coach Nasser Motha, whose leadership has helped the club become a strong platform for adult swimmers to train and compete.

“I thank God for the gift of swimming,” she said. “It is the only sport I can still do at my age, and it has kept me healthy. I hope to continue even beyond 80.” She added that masters swimming has provided not just competition, but also a sense of community and support.

At 74, when most athletes have long stepped away from competition, Kariuki is still diving in and winning. The retired high school science teacher has become one of Kenya’s most remarkable figures in masters swimming, collecting medals and inspiring a new conversation about age and sport.

In 2017, Kariuki faced a major setback when she underwent lower spine surgery—a moment that could have ended her swimming journey. Instead, it marked a new beginning.

Doctors advised her to return to swimming as part of her recovery, and she joined Central YMCA, where she gradually rebuilt her strength. During this period, she was spotted by a member of United Swim Club and invited to join the masters team in 2024.

Her latest appearance at the National Masters Swimming Championships, held at Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa on April 11, 2026, once again placed her among the standout performers.

She is now preparing for the Kampala championship, a major developmental event expected to attract over 700 swimmers across different categories and serve as a benchmark for international competitions such as the World Aquatics Championships.

In the previous edition held in 2025 at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Uganda topped the combined medal standings with 3,933 points, ahead of Kenya (3,572) and Tanzania (3,270). The competition also featured teams from Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and South Africa.

Now, Kenya’s resilient role model Kariuki is aiming to lead a medal haul in the masters category and help the country reclaim its past glory in East African swimming.