THE third edition of the FK Blue Marlins Invitational Swimming Gala was held over the weekend at FK International Schools - Secondary campus at Bahari Beach in Dar es Salaam.

The swimming gala was hosted by FK Blue Marlins Swim Club and was endorsed by the Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA). 

The 2024 Gala saw 13 swim clubs participate, with a total of 227 swimmers competing from across Tanzania. 52.4% were female swimmers and 47.5% were male. 

In the spirit of diversity and inclusion, six special-needs swimmers participated in inclusive swimming. 

David Mwasyoge, the TSA chairperson, awarded medals to the inclusive swimming swimmers. 

He commended the swimmers and coaches and encouraged the swimming community to keep up good sportsmanship in the swimming sport. 

'I believe that an Olympic swimming gold medalist will come from Tanzania. They will be amongst the swimmers participating here today at the FK Blue Marlins Invitational Gala 2024,' Humphrey Kiuruwi, the FK International Schools Principal, said during the opening ceremony. 

Justin Mitchell McLean from Australia was an exhibition swimmer at the Invitational Gala, through Riptide Swim Club from Arusha. 

FK Blue Marlins Swim Club is among the three Tanzanian swim clubs to host an invitational gala in the country. 

The FK Blue Marlins Invitational Gala 2024 was sponsored by Osaka Construction Company, FK International Schools, Coca-Cola Kwanza, JustFit Tanzania and Garda World Tanzania. 

Participating swim clubs were Bluefins Swim Club, Braeburn Sharks, Dar Swim Club, Lake Victoria Swim Club (Mwanza), Maji Maji Swim Club, Pigec Swim Club (Kigamboni), Premier Swim Club, Riptide Swim Club (Arusha), Taliss-IST, Train 2 Gain Swim Club, Wahoo Swim Club (Zanzibar) and FK Blue Marlins as the host. 

Male team scores totaled 3,810 points while female team scores were 3,344 points.