Young Swimmers Dive Into New Opportunities Through Oceans 8 Programme

Photo Credit: Oceans 8 Charity Swim

Through the Oceans 8 Development Swimmers Programme, coach Janet Dlamini helped five young athletes take an important step towards their dreams.

Durban, South Africa (04 June 2026) – As South Africa marks Youth Month, a group of young swimmers from KwaZulu-Natal recently had the opportunity to take on a challenge many had only dreamed about.

Through the Oceans 8 Development Swimmers Programme, five aspiring young swimmers were given the chance to experience open-water swimming on a much bigger stage at the 2026 Oceans 8 Charity Swim, held at Vetch’s Beach in Durban.

The initiative welcomed coach Janet Dlamini and her team of young athletes to the event. For several of the swimmers, it was their first experience of participating in a major open-water competition.

Dlamini is a professional lifeguard with more than 23 years of experience. She has dedicated much of her career to mentoring young people through swimming, lifesaving and water safety programmes. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for young people while helping them build confidence and life skills in and around the water.

This year’s group included Sphiwe, Zanokuhle, Lungelo, Ben and Liyema, all of whom have ambitions of pursuing careers in areas such as lifesaving, professional diving and other water-based sports.

Dlamini described the experience as one the group will never forget.

“The best experience anyone can ever ask for. Thank you for including us. It was amazing, we had so much fun. The guys were so excited (a bit tired!) but proud and happy.”

With support from the event’s safety swimmers and organisers, every member of the team successfully completed the one-mile swim, crossing the finish line with smiles, pride and a renewed sense of confidence.

The Development Swimmers Programme has become an important part of the Oceans 8 Charity Swim, creating opportunities for young athletes who may not otherwise have access to events of this scale.

As Youth Month shines a spotlight on creating opportunities for South Africa’s next generation, stories like these highlight the impact that community support and access to sport can have in helping young people pursue their ambitions.