Kenyan swimmers will use the Africa Swimming Championships later this month in Angola to chase tickets to the Paris Olympic Games.
Kenya Aquatics secretary general Collins Marigiri said: “The African event will be an opportunity for our swimmers to qualify for the Olympics. If they fail, there will be a second chance in the Bahamas in June.”
They have two automatic slots for the Olympics and were keen to add two but the swimmers must achieve the ‘A’ standard qualification time.
They seek to send 22 swimmers for the Angolan championships but this will depend on funding from the Ministry of Sports. The five-day show starts on April 30.
“Angola is an expensive place and I would like the ministry to cater for some of the costs for the championship,” he added.
The selection process is ongoing and the team will be announced next week. Should the funding be unavailable, they will field 14 swimmers.
“We will send a strong squad to the event. I believe swimming is picking up after the ban by World Aquatics. Judging from our success at the CANA event in December, I believe you will see more good results from our swimmers soon,” he added.
Marigiri commended the quartet of Imara Bella Thorpe, Sara Mose, Stephen Ndegwa and Swaleh Talib for a good show at the just concluded Africa Games in Ghana.
