Harry Stacey made a remarkable splash at the Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Swimming Championships in Accra, claiming six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal to emerge as the best senior male swimmer. The 24-year-old Ghanaian swimmer also featured in two gold and one bronze-winning relays and received the award for best men’s performance, thanks to his stellar 100m freestyle time of 59.50 seconds, earning him 783 FINA points.

Reflecting on his triumph, Stacey expressed some surprise at his early-season success. “I’ve been doing a lot of hard aerobic training, and that helped me push through the three days of competition. I didn’t expect to perform this well this early, but it’s been a great overall performance,” said the University of Colorado student.

Team Ghana also excelled, securing 28 medals in both the senior and junior categories, plus 15 more from the inaugural masters tournament. Stacey praised the team, saying, “The juniors came through, the seniors did their job, and I’m proud of the whole team.”

Although Stacey didn’t make the podium at the Africa Games in March, his consistent performances earned him a wild card entry to the Paris 2024 Olympics. While eliminated in the 100m freestyle heats, the experience has fueled his drive for future events, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Stacey looks ahead to more challenges, with world championships in Budapest and Singapore on his radar. “Expect improvement. I’m working hard to get better, and I appreciate the love and support from everyone,” Stacey concluded.