SVG’s Black Sands Swim Squad win gold in Barbados

Black Sands Swim Squad athletes Alex Joachim and Jamie Joachim battled their way to more swimming success at the 24th Annual BASA Aquatic Centre International Invitational in Barbados from June 5 to 7, 2015.{{more}}

Twenty clubs, with over 270 swimmers from the region, took part in the event and SVG’s Black Sands swimmers were able to bring home a total of five medals.

Alexander Joachim, swimming in the first year of the age 11 to 12 category, was able to walk away with five medals. This included a gold in the 200 metre Butterfly, a silver in the 100 metre Butterfly and five bronze medals in the 400 metre Freestyle, 50 metre Breaststroke, 100 metre Breaststroke, 200 metre Breaststroke and 50 metre Butterfly. Alex also set nine personal best times and showed some remarkable improvements. He is setting up to be a dominant swimmer next year, when he will compete in his final year in the age 11 to 12 category.

Alexander’s young sister, Jamie, also competed in her first Long Course event and gave a creditable showing.

Black Sands coach Kyle Dougan said “I am happy to see Alex clearly following in the footsteps of his older sister Shné, who is a current Carifta record holder and the SVG Sports Personality of the Year for 2014. Alex is showing that he has the talent and determination to be a top Caribbean swimmer. Alex now seems to be getting ready to join Nikolas Sylvester, Shane Cadogan and Shne as the best swimmers in SVG and among the best in the Caribbean in their respective age categories.”

Shné Joachim and Nikolas Sylvester will lead the SVG swimming contingent at the upcoming Pan Am Games in Toronto in July 2015. They will be joined by Shane Cadogan at the FINA World Swimming Championships in August in Russia. Coach Kyle Dougan will lead the team at both these championships.