For most Kenyans, swimming is a casual hobby undertaken when on holiday at the coast or as a fun activity during the weekend. However, for Emily Muteti, swimming is much more than a mere pastime.
Born in 1998 in Bombolulu, Mombasa, surrounded by the vast Indian Ocean, it is no surprise that Emily took a liking to the water. She was introduced to swimming by her mother who encouraged her to turn her hobby into a profession, and eventually took on the additional role of a coach when she began training her daughter. The young Emily had a dream to become an Olympian, and in order to achieve this, she went through a rigorous training routine. Her schedule involved practising twice a day – first thing after waking up at 6 am, and then again at 5.30 pm once school was over.
The Swimming Prodigy
Emily’s swimming prowess was clear from a young age. She trained hard and specialised in two strokes: butterfly and freestyle. At just 12 years old, she participated in her first international competition in South Africa and three years later, at 15, she broke eight national records in the 400m freestyle and the 1500m freestyle, making her a local celebrity.
One of her greatest early achievements was when she qualified for the Commonwealth Games at 16 years old. Ecstatic at the opportunity, she doubled down on her practice sessions, but this, unfortunately, left her exhausted and she made the difficult decision to rest and recover, rather than compete. To add salt to the wound, she also failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Relentless in the pursuit of her goals
Despite these setbacks, Emily never gave up on her dreams. She went back to the drawing board and put in the effort to get to where she wanted to be. With the turn of the decade came Emily’s success; she finally achieved everything she had worked so hard for since she was a young child. Her Olympian dream was set when she qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. As team captain, Emily also led a Kenyan team to Birmingham, England for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The 4x100m mixed relay team, which included Muteti, and three other skilled swimmers: Maina Monyo, Ridhwan Abubakar and Imara Bella Thorpe, made national history when they qualified for the final heat; the first time a Kenyan team had done so.
Determination is the key to success
Emily Muteti’s journey is an example to us all to never give up on our dreams and try again until we achieve them. In 2023, she was the highest-ranked female swimmer in the country making waves around the world. We applaud this #KeMchezaji for waving the Kenyan flag high wherever she goes!
