ANTIGUA SWIM TEAM

Antigua and Barbuda end Championships with a Rounding Splash

Antigua and Barbuda Swimming Team concluded the PanAm Aquatics Age Group Swimming Championships in Puerto Rico with 15 medals. Over four days of intense competition, the young swimmers from the twin-island state proved they were a force to be reckoned with in the pool.

Day three of the Championships saw the team’s momentum reach new heights, in which Olympian Ellie Shaw electrified the crowd with another stunning performance in the 100m breaststroke, not only clinching her second gold of the events, but also shattering both the national and age group records with a time of 1:12.64. Her teammate, Tivon Benjamin, matched her feat in the 50m butterfly, touching the wall at 25.24 seconds to claim his third gold medal and etched his name in the record books.

The team’s success wasn’t limited to gold, as Alandra Dublin and Aunjelique Liddie added bronze medals in the 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly respectively. The day was capped off with an impressive tally of 13 new personal best times, showcasing the team’s overall improvement and dedication.

The final day of events saw Liddie rising to the occasion in the 50m freestyle with her time of 27.06 seconds not only securing her a silver medal but also smashing a long-standing national record held by former sprinter Samantha Robert.

The championships concluded with a nail-biting finish in the 4x50m freestyle mixed relay. The team of Liddie, Shaw, Benjamin and Naeem Desouza fought tooth and nail, securing a bronze medal in a photo finish that had spectators on the edge of their seats.

Benjamin added another feather to his cap to win his fourth and final gold medal of the events going on to set a new national and age group record in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:03.18. The team’s relentless pursuit of excellence was evident as they notched up seven more personal best times on the final day.