Joselle Mensah is a swimmer for Ghana
Ghanaian swimming sensation, Joselle Mensah, has made history at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, setting new national records in the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle events.
The 21-year-old’s remarkable performances at the World Aquatics Championships Arena at the Singapore Sports Hub in Kallang marked her debut at the prestigious global competition, cementing her status as Ghana’s top female swimmer.
Record-Breaking Performances
In the women’s 50m freestyle, Mensah clocked an impressive 26.48 seconds during the preliminary heats on August 2, 2025, shaving 0.04 seconds off her previous national record of 26.52 seconds, which she set at the 2023 African Games in Accra.
Despite finishing third in Heat 6, her time was not sufficient to advance to the semifinals in a highly competitive field.
The event, held from August 2-3, saw top contenders like Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske of the United States and Meg Harris of Australia, with Walsh ultimately emerging as a leading finalist.
Mensah also shattered the national record in the women’s 100m freestyle, posting a time of 58.98 seconds on July 31, 2025.
This performance secured her a heat win, outpacing Bahrain’s Asma Le Falher by 1.55 seconds, but she fell short of qualifying for the semifinals.
Her new record marked a significant improvement, underscoring her growing prowess in the sprint freestyle events.
Born on September 26, 2003, in Bad Vilbel, Germany, to a Ghanaian father, Mensah has quickly risen through the ranks of international swimming.
A recent graduate of Lindenwood University in Missouri, USA, she represented her institution at the Summit League Championships and competed in German National Age-Group Championships before fully committing to represent Ghana.
Her breakthrough came at the 2023 African Games, where her 26.52-second 50m freestyle earned her a wildcard entry to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
At the Olympics, Mensah finished sixth in her 50m freestyle heat with a time of 26.81 seconds, narrowly missing the semifinals but placing fourth overall among her heat competitors, a significant achievement for Ghana’s developing swimming program.
Team Ghana at the Championships
Mensah was part of a four-member Ghanaian contingent at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, held from July 27 to August 3, 2025.
She was joined by Abeiku Jackson, Harry Stacey, and Nubia Adjei, competing in individual and mixed relay events.
Jackson, Ghana’s top male swimmer, led the team in the 50m and 100m butterfly, while Stacey, a 2024 Olympian, competed in the 50m and 100m freestyle.
Adjei participated in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.
Together, the quartet also represented Ghana in the 4x100m mixed and medley relays, showcasing the nation’s growing depth in aquatic sports.
Mensah’s record-breaking performances are a milestone for Ghanaian swimming, a sport still developing in the country.
Her achievements at the 2025 Championships, following her Olympic debut, highlight her potential to inspire greater investment and interest in the sport.
Her 100m freestyle time of 58.98 seconds placed her competitively among emerging swimmers from Africa, such as South Africa’s Erin Gallagher, who also made headlines at the championships.
As Mensah looks ahead to future competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, her performances in Singapore signal a bright future.
ALL/VPO
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