Three Monmouth Lifeguards Head to South Africa for World Championships

Three lifeguards from Monmouth County will travel to South Africa to compete in the 2026 Lifesaving World Championships. The US Lifesaving Association Youth National Team will hold the event from Nov. 29 to Dec. 7.

The group includes Jackson Napolitano, Emily Sudol, and Nathan. They earned spots on the international team while managing full-time school schedules, jobs, and other athletic commitments. Napolitano and Sudol will represent both the United States and their local patrols. Napolitano serves with Deal Beach Patrol, and Sudol serves with Sea Girt Beach.

Napolitano made his debut at the 2026 United States Lifesaving Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this past August. Sudol has previously competed on a world stage, having participated in a tournament in Australia two years ago. She will return to international competition this year.

"I've been training every week. Multiple times a week," Napolitano said. He described the competitions as a way to bring lifeguards together to keep people safe on the water and on land.

Sudol noted that the team takes its work at the beach seriously. "We love to have fun and work hard, but we enjoy competing, enjoy going to local tournaments," Sudol said. The athletes will join teammates from California, Delaware, and Jones Beach, New York, in South Africa this November.