UK-based Ghanaian swimmer Nubia Adjei arrived at the World Aquatics 2025 Swimming Championships in Singapore with one mission – to lower her race times and strengthen her bid to help Ghana shine at future African, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
But her campaign got off in frustrating fashion. On July 30, the 22-year-old crashed out of the women’s 50m backstroke heats in 10th place, clocking 32.23 seconds –- well adrift of her own national record of 30.74.
Earlier that same day, she endured another setback when she teamed up with Abeku Jackson, Harry Stacey and Joselle Mensah in the 4x100m mixed medley relay, only to finish sixth in the heats and miss out on a finals berth.
Two disappointing swims and hopes of a breakthrough looked to be sinking fast.
Then came August 1 and a swim that changed the tone of her championship. In Heat 4 of the 50m butterfly, Adjei powered to a personal best of 28.82 seconds, slashing 0.32 seconds off the national record of 29.14 set by teammate Joselle Mensah at last year’s Accra African Games.
She took third in her heat, not enough for a semi-final spot, but enough to etch her name into Ghanaian swimming history.
“I honestly didn’t expect it,” she told the Graphic Sports. “I was just focused on doing my best. When I saw the result, I was ecstatic – it was such a proud and surreal moment for me. One big positive was how I bounced back in the 50m fly after my 50m back didn’t go the way I hoped. It reminded me how important it is to stay focused, stay out of my own head and treat each race as a fresh opportunity.”
The feat adds to an impressive season for the rising star, who in May clocked strong times across five events at the AP Race London International – her only competition before Singapore.
Adjei, who made her World Championships debut in Budapest last year, says the record is proof she can handle adversity and still produce her best.
It also reinforced her growing reputation as one of Ghana’s brightest medal prospects.
Now her attention shifts to the Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Swimming Championships in Accra, from October 3-5 – a rare chance to compete in front of a home crowd, where she hopes to ride the wave of her record-breaking swim.
“I’m excited to race in front of a Ghanaian crowd and represent the country in the best way I can,” she said. “My focus is on improving and giving everything I have in each race.”
If her performance in Singapore is any indication, Ghana’s butterfly star is only just taking flight.
