St Vincent and the Grenadines competed in the 2016 Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) held in the Bahamas June 27th to July 3rd, 2016. This is the next level above Carifta swimming and is the premier swimming competition in the Caribbean. This years’ events featured not only the top Caribbean swimmers but swimmers from around the world who were trying to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The competition featured more than 500 of the best swimmers from 20 Caribbean Countries including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Surinam, Trinidad, Barbados and the OECS islands. In addition athletes from as far away as India and Denmark competed.
The SVG Swim team comprised of Cruz Halbich (swimming in the first year of the age 15 to 17 category), Shane Cadogan (second year of 13 to 14); Shne Joachim (first year of 15 to 17) and Alexander Joachim (second year of 11 to 12 years old). The team was lead by Kyle Dougan, the SVG Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2014. Without Kyle’s dedication and commitment to our swimmers we would not be competitive at the Caribbean level and we express our gratitude for his commitment.
The performances of the young swimmers representing SVG were remarkable. SVG captured seven (7) medals. Our previous best was two years ago when Shne won two silver medals for SVG. For the first time in Vincentian swimming history we have a Gold medalist and Caribbean swimming champion.
- Shné Joachim, our SVG Carifta record holder and swimming in the first year of the 15 to 17 age group, is now the proud Caribbean Champion in the 50 Meter Breaststroke. Shne won Gold in a personal best time that was only fractions of a second away from the Caribbean record established by the Jamaican World Champion, Alia Atkinson, when she swam at CISC in the same age group. Shne qualified for the finals in all her other races winning Bronze in the 100 meter Breaststroke and placing a close fourth in the 50 meter freestyle event in yet another personal best time. Shné continues her amazing success story of winning medals at the last four consecutive Carifta Swimming Championships and the last two Caribbean Swimming Championships. These are feats unparalleled in SVG swimming history.
- Shane Cadogan, after several heart-breaking fourth place finishes has broken through with his first medal at the Caribbean level. Shane took the Bronze medal in the Boys 13 to 14 age group in the 50 meter Breaststroke event. He set several personal best times and also qualified for the finals of the 50 meter Butterfly, 100 meter Breast and 50 meter Freestyle races.
- Alex Joachim, younger brother of Shne, continues his rise in the world of Caribbean swimming. Alex has set Vincentian history by being the first swimmer to win four medals at the same Caribbean level event. This after winning two silvers at Carifta earlier this year. Alex silver medal performance in the 200 meter Butterfly was one of the highlight races of the Championships with a battle to the wire. He also took Silver in the 200 meter Breaststroke. He added Bronze medals in the 100 meter Breaststroke and the 50 meter Breaststroke event. He qualified for the finals for all eight of his races and set seven personal best times. A truly outstanding performance.
- Cruz Halbich, swimming in the first year of a very tough age 15 to 17 category recorded personal best times in all of his races.
The President of the SVG Swimming Federation, Stephen Joachim, observed “four years ago, team SVG competed at our first CARIFTA Swimming Championships in the Bahamas where Shne and Nikolas Sylvester competed. They placed last or close to last in every race. Four years later, Shne is now a Caribbean Champion. An incredible turnaround. Coach Kyle Dougan and the efforts of the swimmers have been the reason for this turnaround. We sincerely thank Kyle for his tremendous efforts and his dedication to the young athletes”. Stephen went on to state that he had met with the Minister of Sports and was happy that the Government and the SVG Swimming Federation would continue to work closely to continue the development of the sport. He said that the Lottery had made a significant financial contribution to the upcoming OECS Swimming Championships and he hoped they would continue their assistance to Swimming.
Nikolas Sylvester and Shne Joachim will represent SVG at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. While we know that these two sixteen year-old athletes are unlikely to qualify for the finals of their events, we wish them the best of luck and hope that they will do their best to represent SVG. Their competing at Rio is another stepping stone to continued future success.
FUTURE EVENTS:
SVG will host The FLOW Invitational Swimming Championships August 26th to 28th. The 26th annual OECS Swimming Championships will be hosted at the newly renovated and expanded Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre (SAC) November 10th to 13th. The National Lottery and the Government are fully committed to helping us ensure we host a very successful event.
Please contact us at svgasa@gmail.com with any queries, comments or suggestions you may have in regard to swimming.