She won a total of 16 medals, 13 gold, two silver, and one bronze across both individual and relay events
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s rising swimming sensation Crissa Dennis Dillip has once again brought pride to the nation with an extraordinary performance at the CANA Zone III Swimming Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The competition featured swimmers from 10 African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Eritrea.
Competing in the 13–14 years girls’ category, Crissa displayed complete dominance in the pool, collecting an incredible 73 points, the highest total among both male and female swimmers at the event.
According to the official results obtained by The Citizen, her total placed her well ahead of Ugandan swimmer Peyton Suubi, who finished second overall with 57 points, and fellow Ugandan Jonathan Kaweesa, who ranked third with 51 points.
Crissa’s consistency and determination were evident throughout the tournament. She won a total of 16 medals, 13 gold, two silver, and one bronze across both individual and relay events.
Out of her 13 individual events, she claimed 12 gold medals and one silver, while in three relay events, she helped her Tanzanian team secure one gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Her exceptional performance also included 12 new national long course records, reinforcing her growing reputation as one of Tanzania’s brightest young athletes.
Crissa’s record-breaking swims covered a wide range of disciplines and distances, showcasing her all-round ability in the pool. In freestyle, she clocked 28.01 seconds in the 50m, 1:02.63 in the 100m, and 2:19.27 in the 200m freestyle.
For the longer distances, she managed 4:58.87 in the 400m freestyle and 10:26.69 in the 800m freestyle, both new Tanzanian benchmarks.
In the backstroke events, Crissa continued her fine form, setting records of 31.32 (50m), 1:10.82 (100m), and 2:30.18 (200m), the latter being a personal best she had earlier achieved in Dubai this year.
Her excellence did not end there. In breaststroke, she broke national records with 36.53 (50m), 1:21.59 (100m), and 2:55.24 (200m), before going on to record another stunning 2:34.62 in the 200m individual medley (IM). She capped off her campaign with a personal best of 31.53 seconds in the 50m butterfly.
At the end of the competition, Crissa was deservedly crowned the overall champion in her age category, earning her recognition as one of the standout athletes of the entire meet. She was awarded trophy.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all swimmers who took part in the recent competition for their remarkable effort, discipline, and impressive results,” said Crissa.
“I commend their commitment and passion, which continue to raise the standard of swimming in our community.”
She also took the opportunity to appeal for more support for young swimmers across Tanzania. “I call upon all stakeholders, corporate partners, and well-wishers to recognize the immense potential within our young swimmers and to actively support the growth of the sport,” she said.
“We need sponsorship and partnerships to help provide better training facilities, equipment, and opportunities that will empower athletes to reach national and international levels.”
Crissa’s success also brought pride to Tanzania’s overall team performance, which finished third overall behind Uganda and Kenya.
According to the final country rankings, Uganda topped the standings with 3,933 points, followed by Kenya with 3,572.5, and Tanzania with 3,270.5 points. Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Eritrea followed in the standings.
Other Tanzanian performers at the event included Heydleen Magashi, who competed in the 12 & Under Girls category and secured 28 points, placing her fifth overall.
Magashi impressed with three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal, underlining Tanzania’s depth of talent among its young swimmers.
In the 13–14 boys’ category, Tanzania’s Max Missokia collected 23 points, with two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals, while Filbertha Demello, competing in the 15–16 girls’ division, finished with 18 points from two gold and two silver medals.
Tanzania’s Romeo Mwaipasi also made a mark in the 17 & Over Boys category, collecting 17 points through one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. His consistent performance added valuable points to Tanzania’s total.
Across all age groups, the competition was marked by spirited displays from swimmers representing the region’s top aquatic nations.
Uganda’s Peyton Suubi dominated the 15–16 girls’ events with nine gold medals, while Kenya’s Don Ndirangu shone in the 12 & Under Boys’ category with eight golds and a total of 48 points.
For Tanzania, however, it was Crissa Dillip’s heroics that stood out most. Her string of victories not only earned her top honors but also signaled a bright future for the country’s swimming ambitions.
Sports analysts and coaches praised her discipline, technique, and focus, noting that her achievements could inspire a new wave of talent in Tanzania’s swimming scene.
“Crissa is a special talent,” said one team official. “Her dedication, humility, and consistency at such a young age show she is destined for even greater heights.”
As the young star continues to train and break records, hopes are high that she will soon represent Tanzania at continental and global competitions, including the African Swimming Championships and possibly the World Aquatics Championships in the near future.
With 12 national long course records to her name and a growing list of international accolades, Crissa Dillip stands as a shining example of Tanzania’s emerging excellence in aquatic sports — a young athlete proving that with hard work, passion, and support, dreams can indeed come true.
