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25 meters pool opens in Linden with a swimming meet
Lindeners were treated to a day of excitement on Sunday as Georgetown met Linden in a Fun Event as the first 25 meters swimming pool was opened in the Mining Town.
5 yr old Linsdelle Fiedtkou (front centre) was the youngest swimmer to compete.
According to National Swimming Coach Mary Chung, most of the swimmers are National swimmers except for one from Linden but swims for Dolphin Swim Club in Georgetown.
The event was a Fun Event to open the facility which saw stiff competition among teams from Georgetown and Linden. Chung said although Georgetown was represented by five teams and Linden one, team Linden put up a fight. Chung said she hopes that the swimmers use the facility and take full advantage. “Now that Linden has the first 25 meters swimming pool I hope management gives us permission for the swimmers to use the facility for a minimum of 4 days per week for training sessions. This will help the swimmers to come up to standards because today we see that Linden swimmers were no match in 80 to 90% of the events to the Georgetown swimmers.” Chung claimed the pool is up to qualifying time standards.
Head of the National Sports Commission and President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association President Ivan Persaud reiterated Chung’s sentiments saying the pool being a standard pool, good competitions can be held in Linden and they could access timing and set good times for events in Guyana.
Persaud said because swimming was on the down low in Linden the better swimmers went to Georgetown to train because of the facilities there but now that would not happen anymore. “I want to encourage Dr. Haynes and others to open a club in Linden so that they would be a part of Guyana Amateur Swimming Association and enjoy the same rights as all the other clubs in Georgetown. There will be more participation, more meets and hopefully we can have our GASA meets done in Linden here and also the National School Sports.”
Former National Footballer Ivan Persaud said, “Sometimes I’m tired of fighting for the cause, so I took time off from football and I’m getting to really, really love swimming and what swimming can do for the children of Guyana.” Persaud noted that there is a National programme for children in all areas.
Five times Gold medalist Aleka Persaud (2nd from left) and Bronze medalist Antonia Dey (2nd from right)were impressive on the day.
Persaud also noted, “Now that I am at the helm of the National Sports Commission I am in a better position than I was even if I was the President of the GFF because I would have been on track. Now I have the opportunity to do more with my studies because all my life I have been involved in sports.” Persaud said he hopes to motivate the Commission to spend wisely and upgrade all the facilities for all different sport discipline in Guyana where children can practice comfortably with good health and safety management. He encouraged children to be involved in sports and to stay away from drugs and crime and urged the elders to educate the youths about HIV/AIDS.
In the Under 9 category putting on a fine display were gold medalist and Bronze medalist Aleka Persaud and Antonia Dey who recently participated in the Caribbean Championships in the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Persaud, the aspiring Doctor, won gold in the 50m Fly, 50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle. Dey got Bronze in 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle and 50m Fly.
The highlight of the day was 5 yr old Linsdelle Fiedtkou of Linden swimming in the U8 50m Free style category. Even though he did not win he showed determination and was able to finish the race to loud cheering from the spectators. Fiedtkou received $3,000 from a spectator for his performance. (Jacquey Bourne)
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