Latest update January 20th, 2025 4:00 AM
“Aleka was destined for the Olympics but this one is a bit early” says Coach Baksh
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News – At just 15 National Junior Swimmer Aleka Persaud has replaced 23-year-old Jamila Sanmoogan as the lone Guyanese female swimmer in the Tokyo Olympics which runs from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in Japan after being named by FINA as the fastest female Guyanese swimmer
She participated in the Puerto Rico international swim meet which was held from May 20-23. She made the B final in the 50 freestyle, which is an open meet (Carifta is age group) and had surpassed her times from Carifta and came very close to qualifying for the 50m freestyle at the Junior Pan Am games. Ironically this was the same Event that Sanmoogan was not selected by GASA to attend.
Sean Baksh
Persaud, who captured three gold medals at the 2091 CARIFTA Games swimming championship in Barbados, was the best swimmer in the girls’ 11-12 category as she won gold in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. She also copped bronze in the 50m butterfly and the 200m freestyle and placed fourth in the 200IM event.
Persaud’s next assignment is the Bahamas National Swimming Championship which is set for June 24-27, where she will compete in the 50m and 100m butterfly and 50m and 100m freestyle.
Aleka Persaud
Persaud, who did not participate in last year’s Carifta games due to Covid 19, has already broken five Caribbean Under-14 swimming records and is now set to perform on the biggest stage; the Olympics.
Persaud has already broken five Caribbean Under-14 swimming records, is aiming to qualify for Junior Pan Am Games in November in Colombia after she returns for Tokyo.
Coach Sean Baksh has been the talented Persaud’s only Coach and disclosed that the teenager is disciplined, dedicated, follows instructions and has tremendous potential.
“I always knew she was destined for the Olympics this one is a little bit early but it will do her well for the future where she will make the attempt to qualify… it is my belief that she will qualify for the next Olympics …currently there are a number of 15 and 16 year-old swimmers that will be going to the Olympics so she will be another one,” said a proud Coach Baksh.
“Since her swimming career started she has been at the top of her age group here and throughout her goodwill swim meet years which was the stepping stone to her Carifta performance being the first locally trained swimmer to win gold medals and secure the overall trophy for the age group. Had Covid-19 not interrupted training she would have been even faster. So she is deserving of attending the Olympics,” stated Baksh.
“Aleka has fantastic reaction time and her pulling power is great…she has good technique and is very strong in her upper body when doing dryland work …. her mind set, attitude and work ethic is also on par with the top class swimmers in the region and she is a respected swimmer in the Carifta arena. She has a few weak areas which we are working on but we’ll get over those,” Baksh continued.
“She will gain a great deal of benefit from the Olympics …number 1 being the exposure to top class swimming and getting over the WOW factor of being around such great swimmers…. learning her way around the schedules and other like things. She is ready for this,” concluded the Orca Swim Club Coach.
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