THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) president, Dwayne Scott, announced that 2016 Olympian, Jamila Sanmoogan and Guyana Police Force member, Andrew Fowler, will be Guyana’s representatives at the Olympic Games, having picked up the two FINA universality spots.

In an interview with state-owned media outlet, NCN, Scott said the decision came after the GASA technical committee and council had reviewed the criteria for selection by the sport’s global governing body – FINA.

“The council, having reviewed the entire process and all the details, it was sort of a unanimous decision that these will be the two athletes that should represent Guyana,” Scott said.
However, there was some contention regarding Fowler and 17-year-old sensation, Leon Seaton Jr; an issue which spilled onto social media, with several notable personalities in the sport calling it unjust and, in some cases, corruption in swimming.

On April 14, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) wrote to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and GASA, noting that taking into consideration the failure of any swimmer from Guyana being able to qualify for the games in Tokyo, Sanmoogan and Fowler would therefore be given the two universality spots.
The issue then came when Seaton was brought into the fold, with a few stating that FINA would’ve already made their selection based on a number of criteria,
According to Scott, “citing the fact that Leon Seaton Jr. is still a 17-year old, in spite of performances and his accomplishments to date, we thought it would be prudent to confirm with FINA and the Olympic Associations that these will be the two athletes that will represent Guyana.”

While understanding the outrage at some people in the fraternity, Scott said GASA’s constitution provides for “due process,” in the execution of selection for International events.

He noted that “the president cannot make a decision independently. It has to be reviewed by the technical committee, who advises the council and the council would suggest or advise the executives on the best measure to address the circumstances.”

Sanmoogan will make her second Olympic appearance, having first represented Guyana at the games in Rio, Brazil in 2016, where she competed in the Women’s 50 metres freestyle.
Her time of 28.88 seconds was not good enough to see her advancing, however, she was 63rd overall.

Sanmoogan also represented Guyana at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2019 World Swimming Championships.
Fowler, 23, on the other hand, has been one of Guyana’s top swimmers over the years, with experience at the Commonwealth Games, the World Swimming Championships and other notable international and regional meets.