Kent County Swimming Championships 2026
The 2026 Kent County Championships got off to a flying start at the K2 Arena in Crawley, where the opening 800m Freestyle event set the tone for what would become an exceptional week for Eltham College swimmers. Representing the school were Alice (Year 7) and Alex (Year 7), both of whom delivered personal best performances and claimed their first medals of the meet. Alice struck gold in the 12-year-old age group — Eltham College’s first of the championships — while Alex secured a well-earned bronze in the same category.
One week later, the action moved to the iconic London Aquatics Centre in Stratford for four days of intense competition — and what a showcase it proved to be.
Success came thick and fast. Alice (Year 7) claimed her second gold medal in the 400m Freestyle before dominating the 100m Breaststroke, qualifying first and storming to victory with a new personal best. Mila (Year 9) also made headlines, winning her first-ever County Championship title in the 14-year-old 100m Breaststroke, while Isabelle (Year 9) finished a commendable eighth in the same final.
Alex (Year 7) impressed in the 100m Backstroke, moving from third in qualification to claim silver in the final. He then delivered a standout performance in the 200m Butterfly, producing a huge personal best to secure gold. Meanwhile, Rachel (Year 5), just ten years old and the youngest competitor in her age group, made a confident county debut, gaining invaluable experience across multiple events.
As the championships progressed, Eltham swimmers continued to dominate finals and podiums. The 50m Breaststroke saw Alice (Year 7) power to her fourth gold of the meet, while Mila (Year 9) added a silver. Veronique (Year 12), competing in the Senior Open Age group, showed her consistency by placing among the top finalists once again.
Day Two saw further medals across Freestyle, Breaststroke and Individual Medley events. Alex (Year 7) added bronze in the 400m Freestyle and later silver in the 200m Individual Medley. Strong final performances from Stefan (Year 8) — silver in the 50m Breaststroke — and multiple top-ten finishes across the squad underlined the depth of talent within the school programme.
By Day Three, Alice (Year 7) was in imperious form. Gold medals in the 400m IM, 100m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle and 200m Breaststroke highlighted her versatility and endurance. Alex (Year 7) added further gold in the 50m Butterfly and continued to collect medals across multiple strokes, while Leo (Year 10) delivered a string of impressive silver-medal swims in butterfly and freestyle events.
The final day capped off an extraordinary meet. Alice (Year 7) claimed additional gold medals in the 100m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 200m Freestyle, underlining her dominance across all disciplines. Alex (Year 7) secured gold in the 100m Butterfly, while Leo (Year 10) once again reached the podium with silver in the same event. Jaspar (Year 9) added bronze in the 200m Breaststroke, rounding off a superb team effort.
Medal Tally & Team Success
- 18 Gold Medals
- 10 Silver Medals
- 9 Bronze Medals
- 67 Top-10 Finishes / Finals Appearances
Individual Medal Haul
- Alice (Year 7) – 13 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
- Alex (Year 7) – 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 5 Bronze
- Mila (Year 9) – 2 Gold, 1 Silver
- Leo (Year 10) – 4 Silver, 1 Bronze
- Veronique (Year 12) – 1 Silver
- Stefan (Year 8) – 1 Silver
- Jack (Year 7) – 1 Bronze
- Jaspar (Year 9) – 1 Bronze
Eltham College Representatives
Alice (Year 7), Alex (Year 7), Mila (Year 9), Leo (Year 10), Veronique (Year 12), Stefan (Year 8), Jack (Year 7), Jaspar (Year 9), Alex (Year 9), Jessica (Year 12), Isabelle (Year 9), Maria (Year 9), James (Year 12), Thomas (Year 6), Rachel (Year 5), Matthew (Year 10), Helena (Year 8), Onali (Year 10) and Aidan (Year 8).
This year’s Kent County Championships showcased not only elite performances but also the strength, depth and resilience of Eltham College swimming. From personal bests and debut performances to county titles and senior finals, every swimmer contributed to what has been a truly memorable championship campaign.
Congratulations to all swimmers involved on an outstanding achievement and a fantastic start to the 2026 season.
