The Rwanda Swimming Federation (RSF) has announced the establishment of a comprehensive talent detection process in the sporting discipline. The federation will go around the country and hold competitions for U-10, U-12, U-15, and U-17 in both gender categories. “The exceptionally talented kids will be selected so they can be enrolled for training for close monitoring and follow-up purposes. We are creating champions and future superstars in the sports industry,” Pamela Girimbabazi, the head of the swimming federation said. Meanwhile, Rwanda Swimming Federation has plans to build an Olympic-size swimming pool from funds donated by the International Swimming Federation which will help to get more competitive athletes. The swimming pool will be run by a group of businesses which will be also open to the public, who will pay to swim. Girimbabazi has unveiled plans to overhaul the sport in Rwanda with the introduction of new tournaments and setting up development programs for next year. She further said that the new competitions are mainly aimed at talent detection, making the sport accessible to all and introducing youngsters to professional swimming at the grassroots level. The swimming body official also revealed that Rwanda’s Open Water Swimming Championship will be staged in Rubavu and Muhazi, tentatively in November. Another competition, the Special Holiday Youth Championship will be held in December at Cercle Sportif de Kigali and is only designed for U-21 swimmers. Meanwhile, four swimmers, Cedric Niyibizi, Eloi Maniraguha, Claudette Ishimwe and Liduine Umuhoza Uwase have entered in camp in Golden Tulip Hotel ahead of the 14th African Swimming Championship in Ghana Accra which will be on October, 11-16. The swimming federation will also prepare the athletes for the FINA World Swimming Championship in Abu Dhabi which will be held from December 16-21.
