12th CNS Swimming Championship: Delta State Sweeps Senior,Junior Titles

By Arinchechi Chukwunonso

Asaba, Nigeria – July 18, 2025

The 12th edition of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) National Swimming Championship concluded in grand fashion on Friday, July 18, 2025, with Delta State emerging as the overall champion in both the senior and junior categories. The final day at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Swimming Arena in Asaba featured over a dozen thrilling finals, highlighting rising talents and established stars from across the country.

In the senior category, Delta State topped the medal table with 10 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze, followed by Aqua Swimming Club (4 gold, 6 silver) and the Nigeria Army (3 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze). Delta also dominated the junior division, finishing with 11 gold, 5 silver, and 10 bronze medals, ahead of Jimi Osinowo Swimming Club (9 gold, 1 silver) and Edo State, who earned an impressive 3 gold, 15 silver, and 4 bronze.

🎯 Final Day Highlights – July 18, 2025

Olise Endurance of Delta delivered a spectacular performance, claiming gold in the 50m backstroke boys (33.84s) and adding another gold in the 50m breaststroke (1:09:13) for boys 12 & under, capping a dominant championship for the young prodigy.

In the women’s 50m butterfly, Delta’s Akiayefa Timipamie-Ere clocked an impressive 30.68 seconds to finish first and later led her team to victory in the 4x100m medley relay.

The men’s 100m freestyle final saw Clinton Opute of Delta take gold in 55.86 seconds, followed closely by Shedrack Simon of Aqua Swim and Ossai Stanley, also from Delta.

In the prestigious 4x100m freestyle relay (men), Delta State fielded a powerhouse team of Duke Eniyekanmimi, Clinton Opute, Ossai Stanley, and Olise Chukwunalu, who clocked 3:51:40 to beat Edo State and the Nigeria Army.

Edo State’s Tissa Precious won the 50m freestyle boys (13–15 years) in 26.20 seconds, while Lucky Ayemi of Edo State also claimed gold in the 50m freestyle girls with 31.23 seconds.

In the military 4x50m mixed freestyle relay, the Nigeria Army clinched gold in a tightly contested race ahead of the Air Force and Navy.

🏅 Medal Table Summary

Senior Category (Top 3)

Delta State – 10 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze

Aqua Swim Club – 4 Gold, 6 Silver

Nigeria Army – 3 Gold, 5 Silver, 3 Bronze

Junior Category (Top 3)

Delta State – 11 Gold, 5 Silver, 10 Bronze

Jimi Osinowo Club – 9 Gold, 1 Silver

Edo State – 3 Gold, 15 Silver, 4 Bronze

🌍 Teams in Attendance

This year’s championship drew participation from 9 states, including Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kaduna, Anambra, Imo, Lagos, and Enugu, along with top-tier swimming clubs such as Aqua Swim Club, Jimi Osinowo Swim Club, Harmony Swim Club, and Dynamic Swim Club. Military teams from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force also competed fiercely in both individual and relay events.

The CNS Swimming Championship once again fulfilled its mandate to promote national unity, military-civilian collaboration, and youth development through sport. With hundreds of swimmers showcasing their talents over four days, the competition proved to be a fertile ground for discovering the next generation of national and international champions.

As the pool calms and teams depart Asaba, Delta State’s dual triumph is a clear testament to the state’s commitment to grassroots sports development and high-performance athlete grooming. The bar has been set high for future editions.