05 Oct 2026

For Botswana as a landlocked country blanketed by the Kalahari Desert, open-water swimming is arguably the last arena where the country expects to shine.

Elite open-water athletes typically require vast natural marine environments seas, oceans, or sweeping river systems to build world-class stamina.

Yet, local swimming sensation Benco van Rooyen continues to shatter those geographical limitations, turning heads across the international aquatics community.

Commonly dubbed the “Ocean Walker” by peers because of his seemingly effortless power and technical prowess, Van Rooyen has proven that natural oceans are not a prerequisite for athletic excellence.

His exceptional competitive run includes representation at the prestigious World Aquatics Championships and a recent bronze-medal victory at the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Open Water Championships in Mauritius.

Van Rooyen’s ability to out swim athletes from coastal nations who enjoy year-round ocean access highlights a remarkable triumph of discipline over environmental constraints.Van Rooyen recently achieved a major milestone by qualifying for the World Aquatics Championships, a feat that earned him a prestigious development scholarship from World Aquatics.

 The scholarship will fund a two-year elite training block in France, designed to prepare him for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Van Rooyen said the stark contrast between his current training conditions and what awaits him in Europe.“This opportunity means a lot because of the advanced training facilities available there, most importantly, we will be able to swim in the sea. Here in Botswana, there are very few safe open-water spaces where we can train due to the presence of crocodiles and hippos,” he said.

To compensate for the lack of natural training grounds, Van Rooyen and his coaching team have had to innovate, relying heavily on local swimming pools to simulate the grueling endurance required for open-water races.

“We have been training much more in the pool sometimes for three hours a day, and sometimes even longer,” he explained.

As he prepares to depart for France later this month, Van Rooyen remains focused on his ultimate goal of representing Botswana on the world’s biggest sporting stage in two years’ time.

 He also offered words of encouragement for the next generation of local swimmers aiming to follow in his wake.

“Build a strong foundation and put all your effort into what you do,” Van Rooyen advised. “That is the best advice I can give,” he said. ENDS