AT the recentlyl held Inter Guiana Games (IGG), Guyana’s Swim team was overwhelmed by Suriname, when the visitors once again dominated the IGG Swimming event at the National Aquatic Centre. The Suriname team, boosted by a number of CARIFTA swimmers, won both the male and female categories despite creditable performances from our local swimmers.
In the aftermath of the performances, there have been criticisms that swimming in Guyana is stagnated,since our local talent was outperformed with the exception of the George sisters, Danielle and Jadyn,as well as Olympic competitor Hannibal Gaskin.
However, Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) President,Ivan Persaud,answered those critics by stating that it is unfair to judge a sport that only recently begun a comprehensive program.
“Relatively,our children did well and you have to take into account that all of Suriname’s swimmers were CARIFTA swimmers while we in Guyana have never won a CARIFTA medal.The one person who won a CARIFTA medal for Guyana never trained in Guyana,”stated Persaud.
Persaud was of the view that the Association should be judged after the four-year Olympic cycle program instituted comes to an end when Guyana hosts the Goodwill games next year.
“We are developing and we have a group of children who we are looking to for the future of swimming in Guyana,” added Persaud.
He said that presently there are 9 and 10 year-old swimmers who have broken the 30 second barrier and are swimming below 30 seconds;something that only happened with 13 and 15 year-olds.
“We’ve never had a swimming program implemented in schools;swimming has only been done at the club level and once everything goes accordingly,swimming in school will start next year,” stated Persaud.
The GASA president was quick to point out that some of those swimmers,including Leon Seaton, Raekwon Noel, Jadyn and Danielle George and Alika Persaud,are currently part of the Olympic programme.
With the GASA elections held yesterday at Olympic House, it will be interesting to see what happens next for Guyana’s swimming. The rest of the year for swimming competitions is bright,with the first event being the Joint Services swimming competition slated for today from 10hrs. Following this will be the GASA official clinic which runs from November 12-16,when a FINA coach will be present to conduct the clinic.
Swimming will also see action in the National Schools Championships on November 21 with the GASA Nationals coming the weekend after.