Sierra Leonean swimmer Joshua JJ Wyse broke his own personal best and set a national record in the 50m freestyle event at the Thailand Age Group Swimming Competition on December 21st, 2023.
He completed the race in an impressive 26.82 seconds, beating his previous record of 27.17 seconds that he had set at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi. This achievement surpassed the previous national record of 26.90 seconds held by Osman Kamara since 2016.
Mohamed Abdul Turay, the President of the Sierra Leone Aquatics Federation, praised Joshua's dedication and talent and said that this achievement is not only inspiring for him but also for aspiring athletes across Sierra Leone and Africa. Wyse's success is the result of his hard work and the support of the World Aquatics Federation, which awarded him a scholarship to train in Thailand.
He will continue his intensive training for major competitions in the coming months, including the World Aquatics Games in Doha (February 9-18), the All African Games in Ghana (March), and the Olympic Games in Paris (July). Turay emphasized that Joshua's journey is not just about personal triumph. He is a symbol of hope for aspiring athletes across the continent and proves that dreams can be achieved with hard work and determination.
His pursuit of excellence ahead of the Paris Olympics promises to be a source of inspiration for a generation.