We thank our partners and sponsors including Gallagher Insurance Brokers, the National Olympic Committee and our international governing body, World Aquatics. Without their continued support, SVG could not compete at the CARIFTA Games level.
The St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation (SVGSF) are proud to report that upon completion of the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2023, we have extended our medal winning streak to nine (9) consecutive Carifta’s over the last 11 years (there was no Carifta for two years during Covid).
The Carifta Aquatics Championships were held April 6th to 12th, 2023 in Curacao. The swimming championships were held April 6th to 9th. Carifta is the premier swimming championships in the Caribbean with 25 countries invited and over 300 of the best swimmers in the region. SVG sent a team of five swimmers.
- Tayeah St Hilaire, swimming in the girls 11 to 12 age group was our most successful swimmer with two silver medals, a bronze medal and three new SVG national records in the girls age 11 to 12 category. Tayeah swam a time of 1 minute, 13.33 seconds in securing second place in the 100 meter Butterfly and then swam a time of 30.92 seconds to also get silver in the 50 meter Butterfly event. Both times are new SVG national age group records. In her final event, the 50 meter Freestyle, Tayeah won Bronze in a new SVG age group record time of time of 29.21 seconds. Tayeah also qualified for the finals and placed 7th in 100 meter backstroke in a personal best time of 1 minute 23.75 seconds
- Zariel Nelson, swimming in the girls 13 to 14 age group placed second and brought home a Silver medal in the 50 meter freestyle with a time of 27.46 seconds. She also placed fifth in the 100 meter freestyle in a personal best time of 1 minute, 2.39 seconds.
- Brandon George, our Carifta Bronze medalist last year, swam in the first year of the boys 15 to 17 age group. Brandon qualified for the finals and placed 8th in the 100 meter backstroke while setting a new SVG national record of 1 minute, 2.59 seconds. He placed 7th in the 200 meter backstroke and set a new SVG national record of 2 minutes, 22.19 seconds.
- Matthew Ballah, swimming in the boys 13 to 14 age group qualified for the finals and placed 6th in the 100 meter back stroke in a time of 1 minute, 4.76 seconds. He also finished 6th in 50 meter Backstroke in a time of 30.11 seconds.
- Mya Defreitas, swimming in her last year of the 15 to 17 female age group placed 7th in the 800 meter Freestyle. Unfortunately Mya was ill during the Championships and was unable to compete in her best events.
The SVG Swimming Federation is proud and pleased with the outstanding performances and effort of its young athletes.
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