Record-breaking swimming siblings Jordan and Jillian Crooks are aiming to cement their family legacy as they make a name for themselves and their island in the pool.
The pair, who train in the US, were back in Cayman recently after competing in the World Championships, and checked in with the Compass to discuss their recent exploits, plans for the future and how they are spurring each other on to greater things.
Both are national record holders across multiple events. Jordan, 20, is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, and Jillian, still only 16, is training in Florida, after becoming Cayman’s youngest Olympian in Tokyo last year.
Both set new personal bests and new national records at the recent world championships in Hungary.
Jordan, who was also the fastest freshman freestyler over 50 metres in NCCA history last year, finished 21st over 100m at the worlds. Jillian clocked new personal bests at the same event.
While both said they enjoyed the experience, they are training hard in the hope of getting better and faster in future.
Sibling rivalry
On a break in Cayman, Jordan said it was fun to spend time training with his younger sister
“I think we are definitely very competitive. I’m always trying not to get beat by her and she’s always trying to beat me,” he said.
As the older sibling, he has the advantage but Jillian believes chasing after her big brother, and learning from his experiences, will stand her in good stead when she competes against her peers.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m just this close to getting up to him, then he just takes off,” she said.
After missing out on the Commonwealth Games, spending some time home in Cayman, enjoying good food and family time, the duo have still made time to practice.
Jordan is about to go back to school in Tennessee to compete on the collegiate circuit. Despite competing since he was 11, he said the college scene had been an eye opener.
“I like the environment, the team is great, the coaches are great,” he said. “I think growing up in the Caribbean I was always used to seeing really fast swimming but it took it to a whole other level when I went up there.”
Jillian spent some time last year competing on the US high school circuit. She is now being home-schooled in Florida where she trains regularly.
While both are national record holders, the Crooks siblings don’t intend to stop there. Jillian said it felt good to be breaking records and establishing a family legacy alongside her brother.
Jordan hopes they can be an inspiration to others.
“It does make me happy to know that there are little kids that will coming along, that’ll swim and break those records,” he said. “Records are made to be broken. So I hope one day some kid comes along and breaks mine.”
Both admit that competitive swimming is stressful but they are grateful to have family to lean on.
“I always looked up to my parents and they worked really hard to get me and my sister to where we are today. And so I try to use that as motivation,” said Jordan.
Watch the full interview here:
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