… Coach expects the best from his team
THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association is currently in a golden age, as its current crop of swimmers have far exceeded their predecessors.

The latest of their many achievements includes the staggering increase in competitors to qualify for a single Goodwill Games.

“Since the first Goodwill Games that were staged here in 1995, this is the largest squad to qualify” said GASA secretary Karen Pilgrim who disclosed that there are even enough swimmers to compete in two of the relay events i.e. the Boys 13-14 and 15-17 categories.

When asked what the reason for the abundance in qualifiers was, head coach Nicholas Fraser said that it has nothing to do with a diminution of the qualifying standard but because of the vast improvement of the individual swimmers.

According to Fraser, the level of qualification was based upon the third place times from last year’s games. As a result he expects most of his team to earn medals.

Another factor expected to be in favour of the locals is that the events will be run over a short course i.e. 25 metres.

The 16 swimmers who made the cut are Sheik Amir, Omali Dare, Steffi DeNobrega, Nayiro Freso, Athena Gaskin, Travis Henry, Jaime Jabar, Desmond Long, Henk Lowe, Niall Roberts, Daniel Scott, Joseph Seguina, Soroya Simmons, Noelle Smith, Stephen Soares and Britany van Lange.

The team leaves today for the 15th Goodwill Games that will run from August 14 to 15.