Vincy lass grabs three swimming medals

This country’s top female swimmer, Shne Joachim added more medals to her Carifta Swimming Championships tally, when she bagged three at the 30th edition of the games which took place last weekend in Barbados. Joachim gained two silver and one bronze in the female 13 to 14 age category.{{more}}

Her silver medals came in the 50m and 200m breaststroke, with the bronze attained in the 50m butterfly event.

In the 50 m breaststroke, Joachim timed 34.29 seconds and in the 200 m event, swam a time of two minutes 45.67 seconds.

Her 200 m breaststroke time meant that she earned a qualifying spot in this year’s Pan American Games.

Joachim bronze medal was as a result of her 29.34 seconds clocking over the distance.

Apart from Joachim, St Vincent and the Grenadines was represented Nikolas Sylvester, who reached the finals of the 50, 100 and 200 metre breaststroke, as well as the 50 metre butterfly. Reports say that Sylvester, who competed in the 13 to 14 age category, missed out on a bronze medal in the 50 m breaststroke, by 0.01 seconds.

Also making the trip were Shane Cadogan and Alex Joachim, who swam in the boys 13 to 14 and 11 to 12 age groups respectively, but who found the going tough in their debut year.

President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation Stephen Joachim, who also travelled with the team, lauded their efforts, along with that of coach Kyle Dougan, the swimmers’ parents and the corporate entities, which are in partnership with his organization.

“Our swimmers are some of the best in the world…. They can compete with anyone…. Our kids are among the top 10 swimmers in the USA swimming in their age category, similarly in Canada … These kids are performing at a very high standard, and it is not easy,” the senior Joachim noted.

The swim team, which returned last Wednesday afternoon, was met on arrival by Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil Mc Kie, along with parliamentary secretary in that ministry, Luke Browne.

The swimmers and their management team, like Carifta Games silver medallist in the male Under-20 200m – Reuberth Boyde, who returned from St Kitts last Wednesday, were afforded a welcoming reception, held at the VIP Lounge at the ET Joshua Airport. (RT)