More than 420 swimmers competed in the Dhiraagu Malé Open 2026, making this year’s edition the largest open water swimming event held in Malé.
The competition concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing the best performing swimmers and swimming clubs, following races that brought together participants ranging from six to 79 years old.
Organised by Swim Maldives, the event featured 1km, 500m and 250m races, while a new 500m Team Relay was introduced this year to allow friends, families and swimming clubs to compete together.
Participation increased considerably compared with last year, when 350 swimmers took part. Organizers said the growth to more than 420 competitors this year reflects increasing interest in open water swimming in the Maldives.
Overall champions
Ayesha Zayah Hussain was crowned the Top Female Athlete of the Dhiraagu Malé Open 2026, while Ibrahim Yuaan Shameem was named Top Male Athlete.
The Maldives Lifeguard Association (MLA) received the award for Top Swimming Club.
The overall awards were:
- Top Female Athlete: Ayesha Zayah Hussain
- Top Male Athlete: Ibrahim Yuaan Shameem
- Top Swimming Club: Maldives Lifeguard Association (MLA)
1km category winners
Meral Ayn Latheef claimed first place in the women’s 1km race, with Alya Ashraf finishing second and Aishath Aleena Shahid taking third.
In the men’s 1km race, overall Top Male Athlete Ibrahim Yuaan Shameem secured first place. Yoosuf Ziyaan Zahid finished second, followed by Izyan Nazim in third.
Female 1km
- Meral Ayn Latheef
- Alya Ashraf
- Aishath Aleena Shahid
Male 1km
- Ibrahim Yuaan Shameem
- Yoosuf Ziyaan Zahid
- Izyan Nazim
500m category winners
Overall Top Female Athlete Ayesha Zayah Hussain topped the women’s 500m event. Fathimah Layya’h Shahid secured second place, while Aishath Aishka Sameer finished third.
Ibrahim continued his strong performance by also winning the men’s 500m race, giving him first-place finishes in both the 1km and 500m categories.
Mohamed Aran Shameem finished second in the men’s 500m, with Nouman Mohamed Naseef taking third.
Female 500m
- Ayesha Zayah Hussain
- Fathimah Layya’h Shahid
- Aishath Aishka Sameer
Male 500m
- Ibrahim Yuaan Shameem
- Mohamed Aran Shameem
- Nouman Mohamed Naseef
The event also featured a 250m category, although Dhiraagu’s release did not provide the names of the winners in that category.
A major addition this year was the 500m Team Relay, introduced to provide an opportunity for swimming clubs, families and groups of friends to experience the competition together.
The Malé Open has continued to grow in participation, increasing from 350 swimmers last year to more than 420 this year. The wide age range of competitors also saw young and emerging swimmers sharing the event with experienced participants.
Beyond competition, the event is intended to encourage greater participation in open water swimming and promote awareness of protecting the Maldives’ marine environment.
Dhiraagu said its support for the event forms part of its broader commitment to initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles, community engagement and opportunities for people across the Maldives to participate in sports and recreational activities.
With more than 420 participants, the 2026 competition represents another significant expansion of the Malé Open and the country’s growing open water swimming community.
