Celebrating achievements and personal growth at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2024
The opening days of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2024 in Budapest have been an incredible showcase for the sport, with record-breaking performances and inspirational stories seen right through the competition. Among those defining their legacy are athletes from the World Aquatics Scholarship Programme, whose journeys to the championships are testaments of the power of sport to transform lives.
Launched in 2014, the scholarship programme provides essential financial and technical support to athletes from countries with limited resources for elite sports development. This initiative has become a cornerstone of the World Aquatics Development Programme, facilitating the growth of talent across the global aquatics community.
For Andorra’s Kevin Teixeira, Budapest has already become a defining moment in his career. Training at the Antibes Training Centre in France, Teixeira delivered two stunning national records in a single day on Monday.
In the men’s 1500m freestyle, Teixeira shattered his own record with a time of 15:19.02, eclipsing his previous best of 15:27.61. Earlier, in the 800m freestyle, he clocked 8:06.91, also shaving time off the previous national benchmark.
Reflecting on his achievements, Teixeira emphasised how the scholarship programme extends beyond the pool:
“It helps you improve not just in swimming but as a person. The advice and connections made through the programme are life-changing.”
Uruguay’s Nicole Frank, a two-time Olympian and eight-time World Championship competitor, also took to the pool with determination. Competing in the women’s 200m individual medley, Frank represents a success story shaped by the scholarship programme. Reflecting on her time in the initiative from 2019 to 2022, she shared, “In Uruguay, opportunities for development are limited. This programme gave me the tools to qualify for Tokyo 2020 and grow not just as an athlete but as a person.”
The connections she built with coaches and teammates from diverse cultures have been transformative: “It’s about more than swimming. It’s about personal growth and learning from others.
"The programme provides an opportunity to develop in so many ways.”
Kenya’s Sara Mose, competing at her first World Championships, spoke of the profound impact the event in Budapest has had on her. “It’s new experiences, new emotions, and new feelings. Racing with the best teams in the world gives me more confidence to push harder. I’m satisfied with my results so far, and I’m loving training at the Antibes Training Centre in France under the World Aquatics Scholarship programme.”
The Maldives’ Mohamed Aan Hussain has also felt the benefits of the programme while he competes in Hungary.
“The World Championships have been going great so far—I’ve dropped more than a second off my 100m freestyle. The scholarship programme has contributed a lot to that improvement!”
For many scholarship athletes, the journey to Budapest has been about more than competing—it has been about overcoming obstacles and embracing new experiences.
Namibia’s Ronan Wantenaar highlighted the long-term benefits of the programme: “World Aquatics has provided an amazing opportunity for so many athletes to experience different training conditions. It’s had a huge impact on developing countries that are just starting in the sport. I’ve been to competitions all around the world because of this programme, and it’s been a brilliant experience. I hope all participants look back later in life and think, ‘What a great thing to have been part of.’”
Lamar Taylor of the Bahamas highlighted how the programme has supported his development during his university career: “Even with the small things, like having a personal trainer or transport, it’s made a huge difference. It’s steered me in the right direction, and I’m now focused on making it to the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032.”
Similarly, Hamna Ahmed from the Maldives has embraced the challenges of training far from home under the Stipendium Hungaricum programme in Hungary. “It’s a lot colder here than in the Maldives,” she joked, “but being part of a new training group has been an incredible learning experience. My goal is the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.”
For Uganda’s Tendo Mukalazi, balancing academic goals with elite training has been a rewarding challenge. He said;
“The support from the World Aquatics and Stipendium Hungaricum programmes has helped me maintain both my swimming and my studies."
It’s been a huge boost to my confidence and performance and I’m really happy to be competing here.”
The talent of the scholarship holders has been on full display in Budapest. Across the global community, these athletes have proven that talent can thrive with the right support.
The World Aquatics Scholarship Holders who are competing during the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) can be found here: https://www.worldaquatics.com/news/4182412/athlete-scholarship-holders-world-aquatics-swimming-championships-25m-budapest-2024
Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring stories from Budapest!