Loud screams and cheers of ‘Jordan, Jordan, Jordan’ echoed through the halls of the Youth Services Unit Intergenerational Hub in George Town on Sunday as Caymanian swimmer Jordan Crooks cemented his name in the history books.
The 22-year-old successfully defended his 50-metre freestyle title at the Duna Arena in Budapest on Sunday, after shattering the world record twice in one day on Saturday.
Watching on a big screen TV on Sunday, attendees abandoned their seats to jump and cheer Crooks on as he swam.
Homecoming in the works
Sports Minister Isaac Rankine, who could not contain his excitement, watching Crooks take the gold at the 2024 World Aquatic Championships, pumped his hand in the air as the swimmer won the race.
“ Watching Jordan perform again on TV in his world championship, defending his world championship from a couple of years ago … it is an awesome feeling, incredible. It’s hard to describe that feeling and how he has made us so proud, Caymanian proud again,” Rankine said.
Rankine told the Cayman Compass that a special homecoming is in the making for the two-time world champion and world record holder when he returns from Budapest this week.
As for a national holiday in Crooks’ name, Rankine said, “That’s left to be seen.”
Rankine said he knew going into the championship finals on Sunday that Crooks would perform, and he was “honestly expecting him to get close to breaking his record again”.
However, seeing the race unfold was another feeling altogether.
“ I just want to let our young people know that, with dedication and perseverance, they can achieve anything. Look at Jordan, look at where he’s at today. He’s made us, the Cayman Islands, so, so proud,” he said.
When Crooks appeared on the TV screen, attendees went wild at the government-organised watch party.
Crooks, on Saturday, finished his 50-metre freestyle heat in a record time of 20.08 – destroying the previous record of 20.16 set by American Caeleb Dressel in 2020.
He followed that performance by smashing his own record in the semi-final, becoming the first swimmer in history to go sub 20 over that distance in the pool.
Crooks, in an interview immediately after the race, said, “It was awesome, I am super grateful to be here.”
The moment was a unifying one as Osbourne Bodden, former sports minister, embraced Rankine and Deputy Premier Kenneth Bryan after Crooks won the race.
Inspiration for all
It was an emotional moment for Bodden as he recalled seeing Crooks starting out his swimming career as a child, and now he is a world record holder and two-time world champion.
“This is an amazing day. I became sports minister when Jordan was 11. He’s 22 now, that proves that the investment in youth will always bear fruit, but it takes time. You have to allow the young people to grow under the right development,” he said.
Although Cayman did not have a 50-metre pool, Bodden said, “we’ve always had a great support from parents and community”.
He called for a statue of Crooks to be mounted in Heroes Square, as well as a huge homecoming and honour from government – whether it be property or otherwise.
“This boy loves water, he loves to fish, and he’s a humble, humble young man, and it is amazing today,” he said.
Shyvon Hydes, who attended the watch party, said she had so many emotions watching Crooks take to the pool.
“ I was laughing and smiling and crying almost all at the same time,” she said. “It is incredible. The amount of work that Jordan puts into this sport. It’s truly, truly amazing to see the dedication that the whole swim team has. It was just awesome to watch, honestly,” she said.
Bryan shared that enthusiasm, saying, “Everybody was so happy. I mean, what an amazing Christmas present. I’m just elated.”
He said that he would like to see Crooks as a brand ambassador for the Cayman Islands.
“ This is a symbol of hope and I’m really really proud. Jordan has taken this country to some places that nobody else has ever done, and he should be proud of that for the rest of his life, and his family and sister and everybody, for what he’s done for us. He’s given us hope and happiness, even throughout all the difficulties,” Bryan added.
Caymanian student Arianna Chin said it was “really inspiring to see a young Caymanian go out and push something as amazing as breaking a record and winning races”.
“I was really excited, and I was really hopeful that he would win. [When he did] I was so proud for Cayman as a whole, as well as him as a person. I was just so happy,” Chin added.
Rankine said details on Crooks’ homecoming will be issued soon.
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