OECS Swim Meet a success for SVG Swim team

Success this time around is defined by the significant improvement seen in the performance of all the swimmers from the SVG team.{{more}}

President of the SVG Amateur Swimming Association Andre Cadogan attributes this success to the support provided by the National Sports Council, the generous contribution from National Lotteries and sponsorship from the corporate community. This allowed the association to support the hard work of the coaches by ensuring that the cost to the swimmers was kept to a minimum, allowing parents and other supporters to fund only their own expenses as their journeyed to St. Lucia with the team. In addition, the SVG team was properly attired in uniforms consisting of swim trunks, swim suits, swim caps, t-shirts and track suits, all proudly displaying the colours of the SVG flag.

The coaches returned home ‘pleased as punch’, as one swimmer, Brandon Bristol, secured a silver medal in the boys 11-12 50 metre breaststroke and a bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle. Amidst the congratulations received from other participants at the meet, SVG was singled out as probably the most improved country. However, more experienced coaches who gave feedback suggested that our efforts could be stunted going forward if we are not training in the proper facilities. It was evident that while our swimmers swam to the best of their abilities, key technical aspects which could only be developed in a regulation size pool were lacking.

The SVGASA has recently submitted a proposal to the National Sports Council requesting permission to renovate the abandoned pool facility at Shrewsbury House, Rathomill. If permission is granted by the Ministry of Sports and National Properties, the Executive Council of the association is confident that they can have the pool ready for swimmers by January 2012.