–Top COP sends best wishes

ANDREW Fowler is the next Guyanese athlete in action at the Tokyo Olympics, as the 26-year-old member of the Guyana Police Force enters the pool in the Men’s 100 metres freestyle, Heat 1 at 6:00am.

Fowler will have the fastest entry time (54.10 seconds) on the list of seven swimmers. There are nine Heats in the Men’s 100m freestyle and only 16 swimmers with the fastest times will advance to the Semi-Finals on July 28.

Fowler is no stranger to top-tier competition. Along with Hannibal Gaskin and Jamila Sanmoogan, Fowler competed at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia in the Men’s 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

He returned to the World Championships in 2019, this time with Leon Seaton Jr and Sanmoogan, again competing in the 50m freestyle as well as in the 100m freestyle events.

Fowler competed at the 2016 World Championships Short Course in Canada, swimming the 50m and 100m freestyle, and the 50m butterfly.

This year, Fowler also competed at the South American Championships in Argentina, where he entered the pool in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and the 50m butterfly events.

Commissioner of Police, (ag) Nigel Hoppie, DSM, in a message to Fowler, said “Andrew, all of Guyana and more so, the Guyana Police Force, is rooting for you as you plunge into your quest for gold at this year’s Olympics.”

“Indeed, you have made your fellow policemen and women and country proud and we wish you the best of luck. Go Andrew Fowler!” Commissioner Hoppie said.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Aleka Persaud will be in action in the women’s 50m freestyle Heat 4 on Friday July 30, from 6:25am.
Persaud’s time of 28.10 seconds is the fastest entry time against the seven other swimmers in the group.