Swimming’s CARIFTA 2013 is on over the Easter weekend in Jamaica and final preparations are in full swing.
Scroll below for photos and bios.
Eighteen swimmers are representing the Cayman Islands this year, five of whom – Alex Dakers, Eddie Weber, Ella Plunkett, Kyle Fraser and Sarah Jackson – are making their CARIFTA debut.
Geoffrey Butler and Kyle Fraser, both 17, are making their final CARIFTA appearance. The CARIFTA management and coaching team, led by Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association’s technical director coach Ian Armiger, is made up of coaches Katie Lambert and Andy Copley and managers Sandy Hew and Jeffrey Wight.
Two weeks ago, the team received a presentation from James Myles, the lead doping control officer for the Cayman Islands in the Medical and Anti-doping Commission of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee.
With experience testing locally and regionally, Myles informs local athletes so they know what to expect when competing. He talked the athletes through the process, showed them a kit and stressed how important it is that if they are selected for random drug testing that they comply. But he added that they do so with a team manager with them and that they check the testing equipment to ensure that it is new and has not been tampered with.
“We at the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee are committed to keeping Cayman Islands national athletes dope free. We are dedicated to ensuring that all athletes, especially Caymanians play true in all sports at all times,” Myles said.
“We feel that the earlier our aspiring elite athletes are exposed to the process, the more comfortable their sporting careers will be and the doping control process will provide for them the confidence that they are competing on a level playing field and that their place in the world is true,” he added.
The athletes also underwent a team building session where they got to know each other outside of the usual environment of swimming and school.
“These athletes all know each other and compete against each other routinely,” Armiger said. “The CARIFTA squad training sessions give the athletes and coaches a chance to work together and to focus on skills and techniques, such as relay exchanges where timing is critical. Fast, efficient and accurate relay exchanges can win the race.
“This is my first CARIFTA,” he said. “I am looking forward to it, to really seeing what fast swimming in the Caribbean region at this level looks like, so that we can work more strategically with our competitive swimmers in the future.
“We could not do this without our sponsors the Cayman Islands government, Maples, Subway, Cayman Airways and CIASA and we are committed to representing the Cayman Islands with pride and honour while we are in Jamaica.”
The CARIFTA squad leaves for Jamaica on Tuesday, 26 March, and will be training in the National Stadium Pool in Kingston before competition starts on 30 March.
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SAM BAILEY, age 12 Stingray Swim Club Attends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 100m free and 200m back GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To make one final every day and to win at least one medal. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Michael Phelps INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “I won’t predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible,” Michael Phelps. |
| STEFANIE BOOTHE, 12 Stingray Swim Club Attends St. Ignatius Catholic School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m fly GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: Make it to the finals and get onto the podium. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: I mostly look up to my big sister, Danielle, because she has a positive personality and likes to share her past experiences with me as a guide to avoid future mistakes. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Take me to the King,” by Tamela Mann. |
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SAMUEL BURNSTEIN, 13 Camana Bay Aquatic Club Attends St. Ignatius Catholic School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 4x100m medley relay, 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To try my best whilst still swimming personal best times and standing proud on the award podium. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: My role model whom I look up to the most is Walt Disney. |
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GEOFFREY BUTLER, 17Stingray Swim Club and Plymouth Leander Attends Plymouth College Favourite Events: 1500m and 400m free GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: My goal is to medal in as many events as possible. PERSON I LOOK UP TO: My idol is Ryan Lochte. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Go hard or go home.” |
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ALEX DAKERS, 12Stingray Swim ClubAttends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 50m butterfly GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: Get all personal bests, final at least one time. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Kosuke Kitajima, Olympic gold medallist at 100m and 200m breaststroke and Lionel Messi, awesome sportsman and arguably the best footballer of all time |
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KYLE FRASER, 17Stingray Swim Club Attends UCCI FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m free, 50m fly PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Mum, dad and brothers. They are all great role models. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Never, never, never give up,” Winston Churchill. |
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LAUREN HEW, 13Camana Bay Aquatic Club Attends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: Back, free and IM events GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: Place top 10 and make finals in all of my races. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Missy Franklin and my parents. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: H2O = 2 part heart and 1 part obsession. |
| SARAH JACKSON, 12
Stingray Swim Club |
| KATHLEEN KLEIN, 13 Stingray Swim Club Attends Cayman International School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m free, 100m free, 200m free, 400m free, 800m free GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: Do my best. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Missy Franklin, Conor Dwyer, Ryan Lochte INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” “Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion,” Muhammad Ali. |
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KAVANAGH LAMBERT, 13 Camana Bay Aquatic Club Attends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 200m and 100m breast, 100m, 50m fly, 200m IM GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To make finals in all my events and try to medal in them. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Missy Franklin INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “You only get out what you put in.” I train hard and think about that a lot. |
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CATRIONA MACRAE, 14 Stingray Swim Club Attends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 200m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m IM GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To get personal best times and have fun. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Natalie Coughlin INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined,” Henry David Thoreau. |
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COLE MORGAN, 14 Attends Cayman International School FAVOURITE EVENTS: Anything backstroke GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To final in all of my backstroke events. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Aaron Peirsol INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Robert Browning. |
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ELLA PLUNKETT, 12 Stingray Swim Club Attends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, 200m freestyle, 800m freestyle, GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To do the very best I can and hopefully stand tall on the podium for the Cayman Islands. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: Caitlin McClatchey INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Failure I can live with, not trying is what I can’t handle.” |
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MATTHEW SOMERVILLE, 12 Camana Bay Aquatic Club Attends Cayman International School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m free, 100m free, 200m IM GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To make a final and go sub 2:45 in 200 IM. I would also like to PB in every race. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: I look up to my father, because he is always there for me and encourages me to learn and try new things. He was the one who signed me up for swimming without me knowing. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Swimming isn’t everything, winning is,” Mark Spitz. |
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ISABELLA TOGNAZZO, 14 Camana Bay Aquatic Club Attends Grace Christian Academy FAVOURITE EVENTS: 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 200m IM GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To medal in an event(s), swim personal bests. Also, I would like to have a good and fast relay and to just enjoy the great experience. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: I look up to both of my parents, because when they were my age they played sports very competitively as well. So they are very understanding and supportive when it comes to swimming. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith,” Margaret Shepard. |
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ASHLEY THEAKER, 14 Stingray Swim Club Attends John Gray High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 800m free, 400m free GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To do my very best. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: Dedication is the key to success and beyond. |
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CORAL TOMASCIK, 15 Camana Bay Aquatic Club SCHOOL: St. Ignatius Catholic High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 100m and 200m back, 100m free and 200IM GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: To make as many best times as I can. Also to make qualifying times for upcoming international meets. PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO MOST: My sister Brigitte. She’s hard working, successful and supportive. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “Ability may take you to the top, but it takes character to stay there,“ John Wooden. |
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EDWARD WEBER, 12 Camana Bay Aquatic Club Attends Cayman Prep and High School FAVOURITE EVENTS: 200m free, 400m free GOALS FOR CARIFTA 2013: Swim a personal best time in all my events and make the finals, possibly podium in the 200m and 400m free. INSPIRATIONAL SAYING: “I swam the race like I trained to swim it. It is not mathematical. I just let my body do it. It is a lot easier if you let your body do what it is trained for,” Ian Thorpe. |
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