GUYANA’S team to this year’s Goodwill Swimming Championships will comprise a lineup of some 32 swimmers, accompanied by six officials. Team manager Keon Smith has said that the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) will be sending a team of 14 boys and 18 girls to represent Guyana at the Championships, set for the

Twin-Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, from August 14-16.
The squad includes 2014 medallists Onika George, Accalia Khan, Nathan Hackett, Antonio Hussein, Raekwon Noel, and Omar Adams as well as 2013 gold medallist Hannibal Gaskin, who is currently in Kazan, Russia representing Guyana at the 16th FINA Swimming Championships.
In lower age category are national record holders Leon Seaton and Aleka Persaud. The team will this year lack the backings from backstroke gold medallist Soroya Simmons, who has graduated out of the competition’s age range.
Nonetheless, this year’s team reflects an increase from last year’s where Guyana was represented by 29 swimmers, when the event was held in Barbados. It also marks a climb closer to the maximum 40 swimmers that each team is allowed to register for the competition.
Head coach for the team, Sean Baksh, noted the improvement bodes well for the team, who would be competing against five other countries; namely Suriname, Barbados, St Lucia, Bahamas, and home team Trinidad.
However, Baksh admitted that this increase may not immediately reflect a change in Guyana’s overall position, though it would work to enhance Guyana’s final points standing and will give several swimmers a chance to push themselves and improve on their timings.
“It is still a challenge to fill the slot of 40 with quality swimmers,” Baksh said.
“It is a challenge for the clubs, but we are stepping up. Guyana normally goes with the least number of swimmers, and this year there is an increase in the numbers because we’ve made some changes in the standards, (but) even though we have more swimmers we are not guaranteed our standing in terms of placement but our points standing will go up.”
Baksh reminded that the meet is a developmental one and while winning is the ultimate goal, developing on the skills of the swimmers we do have is key.
“It is a developmental meet and we are trying to motivate the swimmers.” Baksh continued.
Guyana’s performance at the meet over the years has been dismal with Guyana finishing in last place every year for over five years running, even when the competition was held on home turf, as was the case back in 2012. Reason continues to be not only Guyana’s lack of swimmers, but lack of proficient swimmers.
Competing against just Suriname, Barbados, Trinidad and St Lucia last year, Guyana finished in fifth place with just 461 points, ending with 18 individual medals and eight bronze medal performances in the relay. Of the individual medals 4 were gold, six were silver, and eight bronze.
Meanwhile, Trinidad managed to overthrow defending champions Suriname for the win after mounting 1 569 points last year.
The swimmers are set to leave Guyana on August 13 and return August 17. Accompanying the team in addition to the team manager and head coach are assistant team manager Shyka Gonsalves, assistant coaches Isabel Couso Fals and Paul Mahaica and chaperone Shannie Rodrigues.