Fresh off their triumph at the Junior Championships just weeks ago, Ambrosoli Sailfish Swim Club once again proved their strength across all levels of competitive swimming — this time through their masters programme — after producing an impressive all-round performance at the Formidables Masters Gala 2026.
The club finished second overall with an outstanding 1,718 points, cementing its place among the competition’s elite teams. What made their performance particularly remarkable was the balance they displayed across both the men’s and women’s categories, combining experience, consistency and depth to emerge as one of the standout clubs of the gala.
Ambrosoli Sailfish’s biggest statement came in the women’s division, where they emerged as the top-ranked team with 836 points in one of the closest contests of the competition. They narrowly edged hosts Formidables Swim Club and Malta Swim Club, showcasing the club’s strength in female participation and performance.
Their dominance was built on several standout performances across different age groups.
In the women’s 30–34 age category, Trinity Priscilla Biywaga delivered one of the team’s standout swims, storming to victory in the breaststroke event with a winning time of 20.90 seconds while also contributing valuable points in other races.
The 35–39 category further highlighted Sailfish’s depth as Sarah Kansiime and Vivian Namyalo controlled the breaststroke events with commanding podium finishes, underlining the club’s strength in experienced female swimmers.
Veteran swimmer Patricia Ejalu also continued to demonstrate her class in the 50–54 age bracket, winning the breaststroke race in 25.58 seconds and adding crucial points to the club’s tally.
Beyond the victories, swimmers such as Aurelie Duchateau and Rachael Amito made important contributions in freestyle and backstroke events, ensuring the team remained competitive across multiple disciplines.
While Formidables Swim Club dominated the men’s standings, Ambrosoli Sailfish still produced a strong showing to finish second in the category with 882 points.
Their men consistently placed among the top performers and delivered some of the gala’s most memorable races.
Head coach Joseph Kabogoza led from the front, not only guiding the team from the deck but also competing in the pool. He claimed victory in the men’s 40–44 butterfly event with a time of 13.93 seconds and also registered solid performances in freestyle races.
In the men’s 45–49 category, Patrick Oghittu emerged as one of the stars of the gala after winning both the breaststroke event in 17.80 seconds and the butterfly race in 15.43 seconds.
Kabogoza revealed that Patrick’s performance was one of the highlights of the competition.
“We had a gentleman called Patrick today who had a fantastic swim in the 45–49 category. He won everything. In the freestyle events, he even beat some of the younger swimmers,” Kabogoza said.
For Kabogoza, the result goes beyond medals and points totals; it validates a Masters Programme built on consistency, accessibility and inclusion.
The coach explained that, unlike their junior programme, masters swimmers train only once every Saturday morning, yet they continue to show remarkable commitment throughout the year.
“We don’t have too many days for masters because most of our time goes to younger swimmers, but the masters train every Saturday, and they’ve remained very consistent,” he said.
He credited much of the programme’s success to its inclusive approach, which welcomes everyone regardless of age, experience or ability.
“We take on anyone regardless of gender, regardless of ability. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced swimmer, everyone is welcome. We even work with para swimmers and athletes with special needs—it’s a fully inclusive programme,” he added.
Kabogoza noted that many swimmers have progressed through the club’s learn-to-swim programme before eventually transitioning into competitive masters swimming.
The second-place finish was particularly significant for Ambrosoli Sailfish because it reflected measurable progress within the programme.
According to Kabogoza, many swimmers were celebrating personal best performances and comparing their times to previous editions of the gala, clear evidence that the programme continues to grow.
“It shows that the programme is working. Athletes are now tracking their progress and celebrating personal bests compared to last year,” he said.
Despite fielding only 23 swimmers at the gala, Sailfish still managed to finish second overall, an achievement that has now raised expectations ahead of their own event later this year.
Kabogoza believes the result will inspire even greater participation moving forward.
“We had many people who didn’t show up today, and we still finished second. At the Sailfish Masters Gala, we expect more than 50 swimmers, and that should make us even stronger, especially in the men’s category,” he said.
Ambrosoli Sailfish’s performance at the Formidables Masters Gala was about far more than finishing second. Ambrosoli Sailfish continues to set the standard—and if their latest performance is anything to go by, they are only getting started.