… will learn from experience, says coach Sean Baksh

THE second of Guyana’s two-man swim contingent, Jamila Kezia Sanmoogan, finished sixth in her 50m freestyle heat in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Sanmoogan finished with a time of 28.88, finishing 0.62 seconds off her previous personal best of 28.26 going into the games. The swimmer, who is also in the Guyana Olympic squad based on FINA’s universality place rules, was supposed to reduce her personal best, just as swim teammate Hannibal Gaskin had done.
According to senior National coach Sean Baksh, the 19-year-old had a good start but a shaky finish.
“She had a good start, her underwater was good, but coming to the end of the race, she loosened up, and that contributed seconds to her time,” Baksh stated.
Baksh was also of the opinion that Jamila could swim at 27 seconds, going a second faster than her personal best.
“Jamila has the potential to swim 27 seconds, she can definitely do it, she will learn from this experience,” finished Baksh.
The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) extended their support, saying “We wish Jamila well, we don’t know what happened but we are waiting on a report,” GASA also went on to say, “Nevertheless we are proud of Jamila and everything she has accomplished.”
Jamila’s campaign may have ended with her not cutting down any time or advancing but the swimmer returns to Colombia after Rio. She is on scholarship at the University of Sport in Cali where she is swimming as well as studying physio therapy.