Carter Markgraaff’s season now has a World Aquatics date attached to it.

The Grade 9 learner from HeronBridge College has been selected by Swimming South Africa for the 5 km event at the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina, from 3 to 6 September 2026. He is listed in Group 1, aged 14-15, on the official South African team announcement.

His selection follows a season built across pool and open-water racing, with results in Jeffreys Bay, Gqeberha, Cape Town and the NTS Championships.

From Jeffreys Bay to Argentina

At the South African National Open Water Swimming Championships in Jeffreys Bay in March this year, Carter won the 3 km event in the 15-16 age group and finished 4th overall. He also won the 5 km event in the 15-16 age group, finishing 10th overall.

He placed 7th in the 3 km Knockout race and formed part of the team that finished 2nd in the 4x1.5 km Mixed Relay.

Golds in the pool

Carter also made his mark in pool events.

At the South African National Junior Age Group Championships in Gqeberha in March, he won gold in both the 800 m and 1500 m Freestyle events in the 15-year age group. He also finished 4th in the 400 m Freestyle.

At the South African National Aquatic Championships, held in Gqeberha in April, he raced at senior level and finished 6th in the 1500 m Freestyle and 9th in the 800 m Freestyle.

At the South African Schools Championships in Cape Town in April, Carter placed 2nd in the 200 m Freestyle in the 14-15 years age group, 6th in the 100 m Freestyle in the same age group, and 4th in the 400 m Freestyle in the 14-18 age-group category.

Record swim at NTS Championships

Carter had already built a strong set of results at the NTS Championships in December 2025.

He won gold in the 1500 m Freestyle, 800 m Freestyle, 400 m Freestyle and 200 m Freestyle. He also contributed to victory in the 4x200 m 15 & Under Mixed Freestyle Relay.

His 800 m Freestyle time of 8:53.36 set a new NTS Championship Record. He was also awarded Best Male Performance in an Endurance Event (15 & Under).

Carter later added gold medals in the 800 m and 1500 m Freestyle at the South African National Junior Championships.