After a 12-year absence, South Africa has fielded a full 10km open-water team at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, with Pretoria swimmer Connor Albertyn leading the men’s contingent.
South Africa (18 August 2026) – South Africa has returned to the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships with a full 10km open-water team for the first time in 12 years, and Pretoria swimmer Connor Albertyn has played his part in making the comeback.
The 2026 Pan Pacs are taking place in Irvine, California, bringing together some of the world’s top swimmers for one of the biggest international swimming events outside the Olympic Games and World Aquatics Championships.
The 10km open-water races got the championships underway on 10 August at Long Beach Marine Stadium, where Albertyn emerged as South Africa’s leading male finisher.
The 20-year-old stopped the clock at 1:55:28 to finish 18th, with the South African team placing among the stronger fields without reaching the podium.
Albertyn says the result was about much more than a finishing position.
“There are always some nerves because you want to do your best and make everyone proud, but it’s also exciting being in a different country, meeting new people and being part of such a big event.”
The return of a full South African 10km team made the experience even more special, with the country’s previous appearance at the Pan Pacs dating back to 2014.
Albertyn said his race strategy included careful planning around feeding, but adaptability was just as important once the race got underway.
Unlike the shorter, more controlled environment of pool racing, the 10km event can last close to two hours, giving swimmers plenty of time for conditions, tactics and momentum to change.
Related Stories
Megan Kleynhans Adds African Title to Growing Laser Run Success
Lailaa Edwards Heads to Morocco With South Africa’s Table Tennis FlagAlbertyn’s coach, Rocco Meiring, increased both the distance and intensity of his training sessions, alongside demanding gym blocks, as the pair prepared for the competition.
In 2021, Albertyn won the 7.5km event at the South African National Open Water Championships, earning selection for the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships. But the event was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying what would have been his first international team appearance.
Albertyn will now turn his attention to the pool, where he is set to compete in the 400m and 1500m freestyle events. Fellow Emeris Pretoria student Cameron Casali will also represent South Africa in the pool, competing in the 200m and 400m freestyle and individual medley events.
So, after making history in the open water, Albertyn has a few more laps to go.
by 
