Kenyan boy Kudwoli swims to new record

Haniel Kudwoli, 17, trains at Jaffery Academy. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

For Kenya's swimmer Haniel Kudwoli; where there is a will, there is a way.

The swimming torpedo overcame huge obstacles to smash one of the long-standing national records at the Speedo invitational championship in Dubai.

The 17-year-old Nairobi's Otters Swimming Club swimmer did not allow financial constraints stop him from proving the importance of hardwork.

Kudwoli's parents had to seek for financial assistance that helped their son travel to Dubai for the championship, where he competed against top swimmers from other countries.

Kudwoli put all the hurdles behind him as  set a new national record that had stood for 13 years.

Through his desire and determination, Kudwoli smashed the national boys 50m breastroke record of 29.45 seconds set by swimming legend Jason Dunford on October 29, 2010.

Kudwoli's current national record time is 29.45 seconds. Despite finishing second behind England 's Oscar Bilbao who had a time of 28.50 seconds for the first position, the Kenyan swimmer erased the previous Kenyan time as he fought off stiff competition from his opponents.

Irish swimmer Omar Tillal touched the finish line third after being timed at 30.08 seconds.

Kudwoli's sterling performance was a sign of relief for him after he missed out in the 2023 Junior World Championships.

He was one of eight youngsters whose parents lost an appeal to feature at the Junior World Championships, having been denied by the World Aquatics following Kenya’s four-year ban before it was lifted in October.

"World Aquatics is pleased to report that by the decision of the World Aquatics Bureau, the suspension of Kenya Aquatics is lifted,” World Aquatics said in a statement.

“The World Aquatics Bureau thanks the tireless work of the Stabilisation Committee, which successfully prepared an updated constitution and held democratic elections for the future officers of the national federation."

Kenyan swimmers have been having it rough after the then Kenya Swimming Federation, which has since transformed into Kenya Aquatics, was slapped with an indefinite ban by the World Aquatics for failing to meet election guidelines since 2019.