Emily Muteti, Maria Brunlehner and Monyo Maina will spearhead Kenya's charge to the World Short Course Swimming Championship later this month in Doha.
Muteti, who is based at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona said she is relishing the challenge of competing against the best in the world.
“It's always an honour to represent the country in the event and I am looking forward to swimming against my peers,” she observed.
Muteti graced the World Long Course Championships in Fukuoka, Japan last August alongside Maria Brunlehner, Monyo Maina and Swaleh Talib and broke the national 400m freestyle mixed relay record after posting 3.42.58.
She said she has been participating in various collegiate events in a bit to gain fitness ahead of the world show.
“I have had an intense two months competing in the collegiate circuit as I prepare for the Doha, event,” she noted.
Muteti has come of age having competed at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest as well as the 2019 Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco and the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
She said her experience would hold her in good stead for the Doha event. “It's been a journey competing at various events and I believe my experience will augur well for the Doha event.”
She expressed her delight that Kenya is back in the World swimming family after World Aquatics lifted the ban on Kenya swimming following years of wrangles and court cases.
“The last two to three years have been very tough for Kenyan swimmers. I know swimmers who have thrown in the towel but I am delighted we are now back to compete as a country and not under a neutral flag," said Muteti
Speaking separately, Kenya Aquatics Vice President Stanley Kaberu said with the ban lifted last year, the swimmers have a busy season starting with the All Africa Games in March in Ghana. This will be followed by the Africa Senior Championships in Angola, in April
National Age Group Trials in May and the Paris Olympics in July will be next in line before they conclude the year with CANA Zone IV Championships in November.
“It's a bumper year of activities for us in swimming and we will select very strong teams to represent the country," added Kaberu.
He added that should Muteti, Brunlehner and Monyo achieve the qualification times for the Olympics in their respective events in Doha, they will represent the country in Paris 2024 in August.
Monyo has been entered for the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly races while Muteti will swim in the freestyle and breaststroke events.
