At just 10 years old, Aaron Aryee left the Borteyman Sports Complex Aquatic Centre with 10 gold medals and one bronze from his individual events, making him one of the standout performers at the Ghana Swim League Season 4 Meet of Champions.
His 71 points made him the best boy in the 9 to 10 age category and placed him second among all male swimmers, just five points behind the overall leader, who was six years older.
Aaron’s achievement also reflected the strides being made by Aquatic Masters, a young club steadily establishing itself among Ghana’s leading swimming teams.
Aquatic Masters finished second overall with 354 points, its highest position since joining the Ghana Swim League.
The team topped the women’s standings with 205 points and placed third in the men’s category with 141 points.
A tally of the official results shows that the club secured 33 gold, 32 silver and 27 bronze medals, bringing its total to 92.
Aquatic Masters fielded 30 swimmers, 22 of whom were aged 12 or younger, underlining the contribution of its younger athletes.
Held on 13 and 14 June 2026, the championship brought together 187 swimmers from 14 clubs.
They competed in 138 events across freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, individual medley and relay races.
Ghana Dolphins retained the overall title, while Aquatic Masters finished ahead of Legon Swimming Club, Marlins Swim Team and the other clubs in the final standings.
For a club formed only in December 2022, the rise has been notable.
Led by Head Coach Darko Missihoun, Aquatic Masters provides swimming instruction and competitive training, with an emphasis on discipline, technique, teamwork and personal growth.
The club finished seventh at its first Meet of Champions in 2023 before rising to third place in 2024.
It placed fourth with 254 points in 2025, then added 100 points to that total this season to move into second.
Missihoun said the result was not unexpected, given the improvement shown by the swimmers from the opening meet of the season through to the Meet of Champions.
He attributed the club’s rise to changes made by both the technical team and the athletes.
“When the music changes, the dance must also change,” he said, explaining that the team had continued to adjust its training and technical approach.
Aaron’s performance, he added, came as no surprise to those who had followed him over the years.
The young swimmer has competed against older athletes since the age of six and has become the club’s leading male swimmer.
Missihoun also stressed that talent alone was not enough for swimmers hoping to reach international level.
Better equipment, more training time, financial support and the chance to compete abroad would all help promising athletes move forward.
Backstroke and freestyle remain Aaron’s strongest strokes, but his victories in butterfly, breaststroke and individual medley also showed his versatility.
He hopes to build on this progress and gain experience at international competitions in the coming years.
Aaron was not the only young Aquatic Masters swimmer to make an impression at Borteyman.
Bervlyn Brefo topped the girls’ 9 to 10 category with eight gold and four silver medals, finishing fourth in the overall female rankings with 68 points.
Iyanna Kumashie won the girls’ 11 to 12 category with nine gold, two silver and one bronze, while Kendra Lean placed third in the same group.
Aquatic Masters also swept the boys’ 9 to 10 category through Aaron Aryee, Jason Arnong and Kimathi Gyasi.
Seven-year-old Ella Frischmuth added another strong result, tying for second in the girls’ 8 and under category.
The results were shared across several swimmers and age groups, reflecting the growing depth within the club.
Their involvement also goes beyond medals and points.
Swimming builds discipline, patience and commitment, teaching young athletes to manage their time, cope with disappointing races and return to training determined to improve.
The confidence built in the pool can carry into other areas of their lives.
Their achievements may also encourage more children and families to see swimming not only as a recreational activity, but as a sport through which young people can grow, compete and pursue larger ambitions.
The Meet of Champions offered a glimpse of what Ghanaian swimming could become.
More children are participating in organised competitions, standards are rising and facilities such as the Borteyman Aquatic Centre provide a strong platform for the sport.
Sustaining that momentum will require continued investment in coaching, access to swimming pools, suitable equipment, sports science support and exposure to competitions beyond Ghana.
For Aaron, Bervlyn, Iyanna and the other young swimmers coming through the ranks, the next few years will be crucial.
With consistent guidance and support, success at national meets could become a pathway to regional and international competition.
Their showing at Borteyman was another important step for Aquatic Masters and a reminder that Ghana has promising swimming talent capable of reaching much higher levels.
