Guyana’s 1st IGG swimming Gold Medalist to be laid to rest today

Feb 13, 2022 Sports

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Kaieteur News – Former national swimming champion Dexter ‘Presser’ Joseph who died on January 10, 2022 in the United States of America will be buried today (Sunday) at the Christianburg Cemetery after his remains were brought home.

The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) President Dwayne Scott, when contacted said “it’s a sad situation and it was shared amongst the entire GASA fraternity. We are extremely saddened by his passing.”

After the news broke that the man who is credited as being the first Guyanese swimmer to win an individual Gold Medal at the Inter Guiana’s Games the GASA was among others from the swimming fraternity, both at home and overseas, who expressed regrets on the passing of former National Champion swimmer, Joseph, who died while on vacation in Atlanta, Georgia.

The GASA on behalf of its executives and affiliated swim clubs paid tribute to the legacy of the former swimmer stating that “Dexter who is a Lindener, made massive contributions in the swim arena during the mid 1970s and early 1980s, when in 1978 he won a Gold Medal in the 50m freestyle sprint at the Inter Guiana’s Games in Suriname. He swam both individual and relay races and is reported to be the first swimmer to achieve the feat of breaking the one minute time in the 100 yards freestyle sprint. Dexter was also known as Guyana’s best breaststroke swimmer.”

“Most sincere condolences to Dexter’s family, relatives, friends and affiliates who joined in this, our bereavement period; rest in peace Dexter, your memory and contribution to the swim arena lives on.”

Former National swimmer, Roger Harris, who resides in Canada, recalled “I remember him and Peter McLintock coming from Linden to swim as I lived in Georgetown at the time. In those days in the 1970s we even represented Guyana.”

“I remember him being a very good and excellent swimmer who had great technique in the pool. On the personality side he was very competitive but at the same time he was an agreeable personality very approachable and someone you can easily get along with. The swimmers today with all the facilities at their disposal, would have stood on the shoulders of people like Dexter.”

Another past National swimmer Charlie Alexander remarked: “We started doing competitive swimming in 1975 at school level where we had a team that went to Nationals in Georgetown and from 1975 to 1981 we never lost any of those championships. We even had inter clubs rivalry because we represented the YMCA through the Baracuda Swim Club.”

“Apart from Nationals we always won the inter club competitions and always dominating. There were times when we won gold silver and bronze medals in every age groups at inter clubs at Luckhoo Pool…We also dominated the river swims. But Dexter was always outstanding especially as a sprinter. He had extraordinary hand speed. He stated working on cruise ships a day became “a certified chef.”

Another outstanding swimmer who represented Guyana during that golden period of the mid 1970s and early 1980s was another Linden champion swimmer, Yvette London-Dublin.

“I remember him, he was not a selfish person. He had ability and encouraged us to push hard. I remember when we were in preparing for inter Guiana Games on the warm up some guys cheated and I was arguing with the coach. Dexter came to me and said don’t worry with them do the other two laps and it will benefit you. And that was the year when I did exceptionally well. I always remembered him for that,” said London-Dublin.

The former swimmer now pastor pointed out that Dexter relished the freestyle and breast stroke events but he would also do the individual medley race.

Ms. Mary Chung-Phillips, yet another excellent champion swimmer of that period also had prized memories of the early days with Dexter.

“Growing up in Christianburg, Wismar, Linden I remember rubbing shoulders with Dexter Joseph from Prep A throughout standard four. We even acted in a skit in a Christmas play acting as Mary and Joseph and I said to him, ‘Joseph I am tired my baby is about born and Dexter said to me as a child, come on Mary let’s go to the Inn,’ and so I remember those days as kids when we acted.”

“In 1975 we started competing together with the Baracuda Swim Club and participated at the Inter Guiana’s Games in 1976. We also participated in 1977, 1978 and 1979. And I remember Dexter won the first individual Gold Medal in the 100m freestyle event for Guyana. We also participated in the Caribbean Swimming Championship in Trinidad in 1980; and in the Clubs Championship in Suriname in December 1980.”

“Dexter was a brother to all the swimmers in his time. We remained friends we also did the Bronze Medallion Course with Carl Waterus from Canada and the FINA Coaching Clinic in Georgetown for three weeks in Georgetown, and that was in 2000.”

Another Canada-based past National swimmer Mrs. Grace Yhap-Roberts has pleasant memories while representing Guyana with Dexter Joseph.

When contacted yesterday she said “Dexter was like a big brother to my sister (Audrey) and I. He guided us in many aspects of our early years, not only ensuring that we swam straight in the narrow lanes of the pool, but also ensuring that we kept in the straight and narrow paths of life. He always had our backs and many would share the same sentiments.”

“Dexter was an outstanding athlete, popular, very competitive and loved by his teammates and competitors. He was known as an exceptional person: warm, funny and kind. His sudden passing is a huge loss to the sport, his family, friends and the town of Linden; specifically Christianburg. Rest In Peace, Dexter.”

The remains of the late Robert Dexter ‘Presser’ Joseph will be taken to the Christianburg Community Centre ground at Wismar where it will be from 12:30hrs to 13:15hrs and at 13:30hrs. The funeral service will be held following with the internment at the Christianburg Cemetery.

 

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