Latest update May 22nd, 2026 12:38 AM
Local swimmers open quest for honours as 25th Carifta Games get underway in Jamaica
Guyanese swimmers opened their quest for honours at the 25th Carifta Swimming Championship which commenced yesterday and concludes Tuesday, April 6.
Jessica Stephenson, Guyana’s only gold medallist at this level will lead Guyana’s charge along with Ronaldo Rodrigues who will rely on his experience having represented Guyana at these games before. The swimmers endured an arduous journey characterized by delayed flights but arrived in Jamaica, tired but confident of credible performances.
The duo is accompanied by their coach, Christopher McAdam who is also confident that his charges would do well. Both swimmers commenced their journey for honours yesterday morning in the 200m breast stroke event. Team Manager, Davina Stephenson, shares similar sentiments.
Sometime today, Rodrigues will compete in the 50m butterfly while Stephenson stakes a claim for honours in the 200m free style race. The pair is using these events to ensure they retain their form ahead of the remaining two breaststroke events – the 50m on Monday and 100m on Tuesday.
Reports reaching Kaieteur Sport state that the swimmers experienced flight delays in Trinidad which forced them and the Trinidad team to spend most of the day at the airport and was responsible for the swimmers foregoing vital training sessions on Thursday. Nonetheless they were able to utilize all of Friday to engage in stretching exercises and a good warm-up set.
Stephenson has recently returned to form in the pool after a year long hiatus to rest a serious shoulder surgery. Rodrigues was also forced out of competition for one year. The two return to compete against strong swimmers from Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Notwithstanding this, their coaches are optimistic that both swimmers will turn in great performances. The local swimming duo had successfully competed in the recent Mashramani meet where Stephenson had set 3 new national records in a similar number of breast stroke events. Both swimmers have been tapering the last few weeks to ensure that they are in top shape for the competition.
The team manager noted that the assistance rendered by the corporate community was indeed valued. She noted that it was important that the swimmers concentrate on pure swimming activities. She also said that it was essential to have the help and support of these forward-thinking companies. She congratulated the administrators of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) who worked in tandem with the clubs to prepare the swimmers for the competition.
Secretary of GASA, Karen Pilgrim delivered brief remarks and wished the team well in their endeavours. She further emphasised the importance of overseas exposure especially in the absence of a 50m pool in Guyana. The GASA Secretary expressed hope that the completion of the Lilliendaal pool sometime next year would foster the kind of improvement necessary for the attainment of the qualifying times required for qualification at the Carifta level.
Meanwhile, the team manager also expressed gratitude to the corporate entities for their contribution towards the team’s travelling arrangements. She noted that such support acted as the catalyst to the swimmers’ success and encourages them to perform at higher standards. Those entities coming in for high praise are GT&T Cellink, who sponsored the t-shirts, Cara Hotels in Guyana and Trinidad, Demerara Distillers Ltd, Scotiabank, RE Rose Dulux Decorators and John Edwards.
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