No ice rink? No problem.
No Olympic pool? No problem.
No racetrack? No problem.
Cayman Islands athletes are defying the limitations of a small population base and limited facilities to excel on the world stage.
In the past few years alone, Cayman has sent two golfers to the US Masters, a race car driver to the Indy 500, a swimmer to an Olympic final, and now a hockey player to the NHL and a basketball prospect to the UK Super League.
Meanwhile, rising track star Jaiden Reid, competing for Louisiana State University, posted a world-leading time of 19.63 seconds in the 200-metre final at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, going sub-10 in the 100m in the same event.
Their exploits have helped spark fresh investment in facilities from government, including a new 50m pool which is about to break ground.
The golden period for Cayman sports caught the attention of MPs in Finance Committee last week, with government urged to provide financial support for elite athletes flying the Cayman flag.
Sports Minister Isaac Rankine said a policy is in the works that could provide more consistent aid to the Islands’ sports stars.
“We are developing a policy that will speak to the different levels of athletes and how we support them,” he said.
College athletes must keep ‘amateur’ status
One challenge to navigate is the need for college athletes to maintain ‘amateur status”.
Rankine said this had complicated government’s efforts to support swimmer Jordan Crooks when he became Cayman’s first world champion in any sport while still a student athlete at the University of Tennessee.
Finance Minister Rolston Anglin said he has recommended the ministry seek advice from a ‘Name, Image and Likeness’ lawyer in the US to help get around the issue.
“College athletes can be paid,” Anglin said, “but we have to do it in a way that is compliant with NCAA rules”.
Track star Reid already has a Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, agreement with Adidas. The NCAA allows college athletes to earn compensation through brand endorsements, personal appearances, and merchandise under strict rules.
MPs on both sides pledged support for more funding for athletes, though no funds were voted during this Finance Committee session.
The debate followed questions from Deputy Opposition Leader Kenneth Bryan, who urged government to provide more organised and consistent financial support for its sports stars.
He said, “Our athletes are doing great across the world. We have had an ad-hoc approach to grants depending on the term, depending on the minister, depending on the policy.
“We support a more permanent approach to this. When they carry our brand, it gives value to the Cayman Islands and also gives them incentive to continue to push harder and increase that momentum.”
Sports Minister Rankine, who was fielding calls from Canadian radio stations seeking interviews about Jaxon Cover’s journey from island ball hockey to the NHL during the debate, said government was working on it. He said a policy should be in place within two months.
“We must support those people who are going to be running under the flag, with that coat of arms that showcases who we are. We must support them,” he said.
Cayman’s golden period
From island to ice:
Jaxon Cover became a first-round draft pick for the Ottawa Senators last month. The 18-year-old, who developed his skills in roller hockey at King’s Gym, has also committed to play NCAA hockey for Penn State.
Youngest at the Indy 500:
Caymanian race car driver Kyffin Simpson, 21, made his third appearance at the Indy 500 this year after becoming the youngest-ever participant and the Caribbean’s first entrant into the “greatest spectacle in racing” in 2024. Simpson continues to impress on the IndyCar race circuit.
Two golfers at US Masters:
Justin Hastings and Aaron Jarvis grew up competing against each other in junior tournaments at Cayman’s only 18-hole course, the North Sound Golf Club. Now, both have played at the US Masters, both have made the cut in a major championship, and both are taking their first steps towards pro careers.
Cayman’s first-ever world champ:
Jordan Crooks became Cayman’s first-ever world champion in any sport when he took the world indoor swimming title over 50 metres. He went on to reach the Olympic final in Paris in 2024, finishing a fraction of a second off the podium. Crooks announced his retirement after that swim, but is now making a comeback.
Sprint king leads college pack
Jaiden Reid’s record-breaking 200m run on 12 June was the standout performance from a pack of Cayman athletes taking the NCAA circuit by storm.
Jillian Crooks, sister to Jordan, secured All-American honours at the NCAA championships, while sprinter Davonte Howell and hurdler Rasheem Brown are among the other sports stars making waves in the US.
London calling for trailblazing basketball talent
As the first Caymanian basketball player to compete at NCAA Division One level, Joshua O’Garro, 24, had already made history before he turned pro this week.
He represented Great Britain in qualifying matches for the FIBA Basketball World Cup earlier this month and has now signed with the London Lions to play in the UK’s top pro basketball league.
Related Videos
