THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) has selected an eight-member team for the South American Junior Swimming Championships from October 30 to November 14 in Peru.

The swimmers selected are: Olympian Aleka Persaud, Leon Seaton Jr, Paul Mahaica Jr, Daniel Claxton, Elliott Gonsalves, Sekhel Tzedeq, Patrice Mahaica, and Ariel Rodrigues.

The Junior Championships was initially set to be held in Bolivia but the COVID-19 situation forced a change in host nation.
According to GASA president Dwayne Scott, the event forms part of the association’s endeavours to give athletes exposure, bearing Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification in mind.

Scott said this Junior Championships is part of the youth development plan for 19 athletes the association has “long-listed” since officials want swimmers to qualify for the Olympics, based on entry standard time and not the Universality spots.

It is also part of the process of building a potential relay team with the aim also towards Olympic qualification.
Scott said there is no limitation on the number of events a swimmer can enter at the Championships.

Additionally, Scott indicated the event is not a qualifier for the Junior Pan American Games which will be held later in the year in Colombia.
The president said the officials already held their qualification meet on August 22 and they subsequently shortlisted Paul Mahaica, Patrice Mahaica, Leon Seaton Jr and Persaud to represent Guyana.