Young swimmers prepare to let loose the cobwebs
Bermuda’s aspiring Olympic swimmers return to action today at the Basa pool.
The Sharks 2021 Fall Sprint meet will get under way at 8:30am this morning with the future stars of the sport hoping to make a big splash.
The likes of Harbour Club’s Myeshia Sharrieff, Brandon Adkins, Violet Smith and Arabella Newport-Derbyshire will be anxious to show the long summer break and the absence of competition since June has not knocked them off their stroke.
Meanwhile, Sharks’ top prospects, including Taylor White, Tayla Hora, Imojen Judd, and Bella and Marleigh Howes will be hoping that personal bests are the order of the day.
“The SafeKey event has been a long time coming,” Ben Smith, the national coach, said. “It is the perfect opportunity for our home-based swimmers to see where they stand with an eye towards the 2022 Carifta and CCAN Games.”
The meet, however, is not just about the top athletes, as swimmers from the development side of all three local clubs, Dolphins Swim Club being the third, will take to the blocks trying to find the rhythm and power required to meet that elusive B standard and get a chance to compete on a more regular basis.
“Swimming at a high level requires a great commitment from these kids”, Luzianne Jones, a swimming mom, says. “Five o’clock comes around very fast in the morning and, with a full day of schooling and afternoon swim session to come, ʽdedication’ is the operative word!”
All four of swimming’s disciplines will be on tap, as well as the gruelling individual medley.
There will be no spectators to cheer on the athletes because of Covid-19 restrictions, but this will nevertheless provide a perfect moment for the youngsters competitors to shine in their own light.