YOUNG National swimmer Noel Raekwon ensured that the Guyana team did not return without a gold medal from Suriname after he ended with three gold medals and one bronze at the Vos Dasani swim meet, where Guyanese swimmers Onika George and Nathan Hackett also medalled.

The two-day meet which was held over the weekend featured competition in seven age categories from the 6 and under to 18 and over, and saw the participation of eight swimmers from Guyana, with the above-mentioned three swimmers managing to medal.
The youngest member on the Guyana team, Raekwon was without a doubt also the most accomplished of the swimmers, dominating in the Boys’ 7-8 categories.
In the 100m IM, Raekwon faced 20 other swimmers and emerged victorious after clocking a commanding 1:28.30s, with his nearest competition coming from Sven Moeljodirjo who had a time of 1:32.55s.
The eight-year-old Raekwon was once again at the helm in the 50m freestyle where a time of 34 seconds was enough to surpass the 35.35 seconds recorded by Jaydon Croes, while Keyel Benschop was third in a time of 36.39s.
Covering the distance in 42.31 seconds, he defeated Jadon Gooswit in the 50m backstroke after Gooswit finished in 44.04 seconds; third place went to Doron Chundro who had a time of 44.32 seconds.
However, his 48.19 seconds finish in the 50m breaststroke was only good enough for third after he found himself overwhelmed by Chundro and Croes, with Chundro ruling the race with his time of 46.39 secs, Croes swam in for second after finishing one second ahead of Raekwon.
George took silver in the 200m IM, while Hackett managed a third place in the boys 11-12 100m breaststroke.
Participating in the girls 15-17 category George clocked 2:54.44s and finished behind Valery Amstelveen who won the race in 2:36.49s, Marion Soeradi finished two seconds behind George to take third place.
Hackett gained his bronze after finishing in 1:25.39s, just enough to edge past Muler’s 1:25.76s. The race was championed by Touw Ngietjouw with a 1:13.52s finish, over five seconds ahead of Hendrik Powdar took second in 1:19.60s.
The other swimmers from Guyana who participated at the event were Danielle and Jadyn George and Amber De Goeas, all of whom were in the Girls 9-10 category, Trumaine Cole in the Girls 15-17, and Leon Seaton Jr in the Boys 9-10.