Dar es Salaam. Young swimmer Leyna Borega underlined her growing potential in the pool after winning 11 medals, including seven gold, at the just-concluded Tanzania National Open Swimming Championships.
Borega, who swims for North Coast Swimming Club, was crowned the overall winner in the 11-12 age category after an impressive display across 11 events at the national competition.
Her gold-medal winning performances came in the 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 400m freestyle, 100m individual medley, 200m freestyle and 50m freestyle.
She also secured three silver medals in the 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly, before completing her medal collection with a bronze in the 50m backstroke.
The haul of 11 medals saw Borega finish at the top of her age category, marking a significant achievement in her young swimming career and highlighting her versatility across different strokes and distances.
Her performance was also celebrated by Dar es Salaam Independent School, where Borega is a form two student. The school’s Sports and Swimming Department congratulated her on her achievement, expressing pride in her performance at the national championships.
“Congratulations” was the school’s message to Borega following her impressive showing, with her achievement highlighted as a source of pride for the school community.
Borega’s results were particularly notable for the range of events in which she excelled. Her seven gold medals included both sprint events, such as the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly, and the more demanding 400m freestyle and 100m individual medley.
Her silver medals in the 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly further demonstrated her ability to compete strongly across different disciplines.
The overall title also reflects the consistency Borega maintained throughout the championships, with a medal secured in each of the 11 events listed in her competition results.
For North Coast Swimming Club, her performance provides further evidence of the potential among its young swimmers and the value of developing athletes through regular training and competitive exposure.
At just 11-12 years of age, Borega’s achievement gives her an encouraging foundation as she continues to develop her technique, endurance and competitive experience.
Her success also highlights the important role of schools and swimming clubs in supporting young athletes as they balance education with sporting development.
Borega’s 2026 national championships campaign will therefore be remembered not simply for the number of medals she won, but for the range of events in which she established herself as a leading swimmer in her age category.
