Barrowman goes two-for-two in best times on World Championship debut

Another personal best, this time in the women’s 200-metre freestyle on 24 July, ensured Cayman’s Harper Barrowman finished her World Aquatics Championships debut with a 100% rate of all-time fastest performances.

After knocking over a second off her 400-metre freestyle best two days prior, Barrowman, 17, returned to the pool to put up a new 200-metre best time of 2:06.49, taking seventh in her heat and 47^th overall among the world’s best.

“Competing in such a high level competition, warming up in the lane next to my idols and getting to experience the atmosphere provided by the crowd is always thrilling,” Barrowman said of her first World Aquatics Championships.

“The support I have received from Cayman has also been so incredible – it really is everyone back home that makes each meet so special,” she continued. “Getting up behind the blocks and knowing they are watching makes all the difference.”

While that second personal best in as many swims marks the last of Barrowman’s races in Fukuoka, fellow Cayman swimmer and the country’s first-ever world champion, Jordan Crooks, is set to hit the water for his first race – heat nine of the men’s 100-metre freestyle – at 9:09 p.m. on 25 July.

Remaining schedule of events for Cayman’s swimmers at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.

“Now that I am done swimming, I am fully embracing my role as cheerleader and returning the support Jordan and Jillian showed me while I was competing,” Barrowman said. The 17-year-old added that for the remainder of her time in Japan, she hopes to explore more of the country in addition to continuing her training in advance of a trip to Trinidad and Tobago next month for the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Every session of racing at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is streamed live on subscription television service Peacock, while results and a full schedule of events can be found on the World Aquatics website.