Team SA Wraps Up Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Argentina

Photo Credit: Swimming South Africa

The South African squad competed across the 5km, 7.5km and 3km events, as well as two mixed 4x1500m relays, at the championships in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe, Argentina (09 September 2026) – South Africa’s junior open water swimmers have wrapped up their campaign at the 2026 World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina, with the young squad putting in a series of determined performances against some of the best junior swimmers in the world.

The championships, held from 3 to 6 September, saw South African swimmers compete across the 5km and 7.5km races, the 3km knockout sprint and mixed 4x1500m relays.

One of the standout performances came from 15-year-old Carter Markgraaff, who narrowly missed out on a podium place in the boys’ 14-15 5km event. Markgraaff finished fourth in 56:40.60, coming agonisingly close to a medal.

He was joined in the event by teammate Noah Nice, who finished 16th in 59:37.70.

In the girls’ 14-15 5km race, Taylia Smith finished 20th in 1:04:26.90, while Shalea Hamilton crossed the line 21st. The older junior swimmers also took on the 7.5km events.

In the boys’ 16-17 race, Kellen Jones finished 29th in 1:30:38.40, with Wian Bartleman following in 35th. Leah Markgraaff was South Africa’s best finisher in the girls’ 16-17 7.5km event, placing 15th, while Caitlin Evans finished 20th in 1:35:47.90. The team also tackled the fast-paced 3km knockout sprint.

Katie Horne was the highest-placed South African in the women’s event, finishing 14th. Leah Markgraaff was 17th, while Kellen Jones finished 18th in 15:31.60 in the men’s event and Troy McWilliam placed 22nd in 16:24.60.

The mixed 4x1500m relays brought another opportunity for the swimmers to compete as a team. In the junior 14-16 relay, Carter Markgraaff, Taylia Smith, Caitlin Evans and Kellen Jones finished ninth. The senior 14-19 team of Troy McWilliam, Katie Horne, Leah Markgraaff and Noah Nice finished 16th.

While there were no medals for Team SA in Santa Fe, the performances provided valuable international experience for a group of young swimmers still developing on the world stage.

The South African team was also praised for the effort that went into the campaign, with coaches, managers and support staff playing their part throughout the championships.

The experience was about more than the finishing positions. They took on challenging open water races, competed against international opposition and gained experience that will form part of their development as they continue to represent South Africa in the years ahead.

And if fourth place was anything to go by, there were certainly a few swimmers in Argentina who came away knowing that the podium is within reach.