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Kenya Aquatics has announced the launch of applications for the 2025–2026 World Aquatics Swimming Scholarship Programme — a game-changing opportunity for talented Kenyan swimmers to elevate their careers on the global stage.

The World Aquatics Scholarship, one of the most coveted development programmes in international sport, is designed to provide financial and technical support to athletes who have proven themselves in the pool but lack access to world-class training environments. This edition will support 100 elite swimmers globally, offering them placements at high-performance World Aquatics Training Centres for up to three years.

Speaking on the announcement, Kenya Aquatics Secretary General Collins Marigiri called the programme “a doorway to global excellence.”

“This scholarship is more than just financial support — it’s a life-changing opportunity to train with the best in the world, gain international exposure, and represent Kenya at the highest level of competition,” said Marigiri. “We are proud to be part of a global movement that is committed to transforming talent into triumph. Kenyan swimmers have what it takes, and this programme will help unlock their full potential.”

To be eligible, athletes must be aged between 18 and 27 by the start of the scholarship, hold a top-three national ranking according to World Aquatics points, and have participated in major international events such as the World Aquatics Championships or the 2024 Paris Olympics. Importantly, applicants must also demonstrate limited access to local training facilities and coaching, and not be receiving similar financial support elsewhere.

Kenya Aquatics is inviting two applicants — one male and one female — who meet the eligibility criteria to apply by April 21, 2025. Interested swimmers must submit a completed form, a motivation letter, and a short biography outlining their achievements to secretariat@kenyaaquatics.com.

Previous Kenyan recipients of the scholarship, like rising star Sara Mose, have already reaped its benefits. Mose trained at the Antibes Centre in France and competed at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships (25m) in Budapest — an inspiring example of how the programme opens doors to elite-level success.

With this initiative, Kenya joins other nations across Africa, Asia, and South America in harnessing the power of sport to transform lives. Similar stories have emerged from Zimbabwe, where swimmer Donata Katai’s scholarship-fueled journey took her to the Tokyo Olympics, and from Mozambique, where rising athletes are emerging through international partnerships.

“This is not just about swimming,” Marigiri added. “It’s about dreams, discipline, and national pride. We urge our athletes to step forward and take this leap. The world is watching, and Kenya is ready.”

This scholarship is more than a lifeline — it is a launchpad for Kenya’s next swimming icons.

For full application details, visit www.kenyaaquatics.com or email the federation at secretariat@kenyaaquatics.com.