While overseas competitions are currently out for Cayman’s swimmers, this has not stopped swim organisers putting on a series of events at home to ensure the athletes can continue to improve their development.
Under the direction of the Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association’s (CIASA) Board Members, Acting Technical Director and Club coaches, swimmers have been able to enjoy participating in swim camps and a clinic.
Michael Lockwood, CIASA President, said that Cayman’s swimmers have been able to train and compete locally since last summer.
“The rest of the world is now getting vaccinated, and as we – and the rest of the swimming world – are coming out of the COVID-19 environment, CIASA’s board of directors wanted to encourage and excite our swimmers– helping (some of) them to start preparing for international events scheduled for the summer and fall of 2021,” he explained.
For swimmers on the Brac, the National Junior Team Pool Swimming Camp took place in Cayman Brac from 7th to 10th April at their new 25m pool, while in Grand Cayman the National Development Team Pool Swimming Stroke Clinic took place at the pool at the Camana Bay Sports Centre with a focus on skill and technique development.
Most recently, the Junior National Artistic Team travelled to Cayman Brac at the end of April, where they also availed themselves of the new 25m pool for training. At this event, the 13-15 Duet of Allie Capasso and Lila Higgo filmed their submission for the upcoming virtual CARIFTA meet set to air at the beginning of June, and teammates from the Junior, 13-15 and 12&Under categories will be submitting their routines later this month.
Amber Barnes, Abbie Carnahan and Madison van Duynhoven submitted a Junior Free Duet (Barnes, Carnahan) as well as a Junior Technical Duet (Barnes, van Duynhoven) for the Artistic Swimming World Series hosted by Artistic Swimming Canada. They will be competing alongside athletes from the US, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Australia and Korea.
Coach Alissa said it was an incredible opportunity for Cayman’s athletes and the FINA water sports federation to be seen by international judges and to support the virtual event format put forth by FINA.
The event will be scored 8th and 9th May and aired on FINAtv, 29th and 30th May.
in addition to the virtual artistic swimming competitions, Cayman’s swimmers will take part in the 2021 UANA Qualifier, in Clermont, Florida, from 29th April to 2nd May. Jordan Crooks, Jillian Crooks, Lila Higgo, Harper Barrowman, Avery Lambert, Lauren Hew and James Allison are representing the Cayman Islands. This meet is a sanctioned qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics so swimmers will be hoping to set personal bests that will see them qualifying for the Olympics later this summer. The team will be accompanied by acting Technical Director, Bailey Weathers.
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