Team Ghana’s Joselle Mensah has set a new national record with a time of 26.48 seconds in the 50m freestyle at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

The 21-year-old previously held the national record of 26.52 seconds, achieved at the 2023 African Games - a performance that secured her qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Despite breaking the record, Joselle’s third-place finish in Heat 6 was not enough to earn a spot in the semi-finals.

She also set another national record in the women’s 100m freestyle with a time of 58.98 seconds, winning her heat but once again falling short of semi-final qualification.

The 2025 Championships marked Joselle’s debut in the competition, just 16 months after joining Team Ghana.

Elsewhere in the pool

Abeku Jackson, the team captain, missed out on the semi-finals in both his events.

He finished 8th in his 50m butterfly heat with a time of 24.49 seconds, and was disqualified in the 100m event for a reason yet to be disclosed.

Harry Stacey, who represented Ghana at the 2024 Olympic Games and won a medal at the 2023 Africa Aquatics Championships, finished 8th in Heat 8 of the 50m freestyle with 23.05 seconds, and placed 10th in Heat 7 of the 100m freestyle, clocking 51.43 seconds.

Nubia Adjei, the national record holder in the 100m backstroke, placed 3rd in Heat 4 of the 50m butterfly with a time of 28.82 seconds, and later finished 10th in Heat 3 of the 50m backstroke with 32.23 seconds.

The quartet - Joselle, Nubia, Harry, and Abeku - were unable to start in the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay, but competed in the 4x100m mixed medley relay, finishing 6th in Heat 2 with a time of 4:13.77.

The team was led to the competition in Singapore by Ghana Swimming Association President Delphina Quaye and General Secretary Muniru Kassim.