Sophia Walker breaks 600 FINA points, wins national title in Basel

Sophia Walker of Limmat Sharks Zürich won the 100m breaststroke national title with a personal best of 1:15.85 at the Nachwuchs Schweizermeisterschaft in Basel on July 16, 2026, becoming the first swimmer of her club to break the 600 FINA points mark in the event.

Walker, competing in the long course meet at the Basel pool, finished the 100m breaststroke in 1:15.85, good for 604 FINA points and 18 Rudolph points. The time was a personal best and secured her the age-group gold medal.

The 12-year-old also took gold in the 200m breaststroke, touching in 2:47.28 for another personal best and 555 FINA points. She added silver in the 100m freestyle (1:03.14, personal best) and bronze in the 200m IM (2:35.56, personal best). Walker completed her meet with a fourth-place finish in the 200m freestyle (2:23.71) and a sixth-place result in the 100m butterfly (1:17.62).

Several other swimmers reached the podium for the first time this season. Hanna Müller won the 400m IM in her age group, while Alyna Fischer took silver in the same event. Both athletes set personal bests in the process. Jonas Keller claimed his first national medal with a bronze in the 200m backstroke. Lena Schneider, competing in her final junior meet, earned gold in the 50m freestyle after a three-year podium drought.

Limmat Sharks Zürich finished the meet with 12 total podiums across all age groups, including 5 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals. The club placed second overall behind SC Uster, which collected 15 medals. Walker's club also swept the 400m IM podium in one age group, with Hanna Müller, Alyna Fischer and Sophia Walker finishing first, second and third.

The meet marked a strong end to the season for Limmat Sharks Zürich, which saw multiple swimmers post personal bests across the two-day competition. Walker's 604 FINA points in the 100m breaststroke stood as the highest single-race score by any club swimmer at the meet.