Six new events added to Olympics swimming event, IOC announces
Previously, only freestyle was raced over the sport's shortest distance despite all four strokes being on the schedule at world championships.
Kenyan swimmers and the world swimming community received a boost as six new events were added to the Olympics Games calendar for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the 50m backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke will be contested for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Previously, only freestyle was raced over the sport's shortest distance despite all four strokes being on the schedule at world championships.
Their inclusion for Los Angeles brings the swimming gold medal count to 41 from 35 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musaalam was happy with the decision that extends Swimming's place as one of the premier events at the Olympics.
"Today's decision is a testament to the continued evolution of swimming at the Olympic Games. Including these six new events enhances the programme's balance and adds more opportunities for athletes to showcase their skills on the world's biggest stage," he added.
Swimming is one of only four sports contested at every Olympics since the first Games in 1896, alongside athletics, artistic gymnastics, and fencing.
The United States and Australia have long been dominant in the pool, with the two nations again at the forefront in Paris last year.
Kenya has participated at the Olympic Swimming event for a number of years now.
It's best performance so far was in 2008 in Beijing when Jason Dunford finished fifth in the 100 M breaststroke. During the Semis, Dunford owned the olympic record with a time of 51.14.
