The Cayman swimming community reached a significant milestone on Friday, 10 July, with the groundbreaking ceremony for the development of the new Cayman Islands Aquatic Centre.
For more than two decades, the vision of a 50-metre, Olympic-sized pool for local athletes has weathered numerous delays, from changing political administrations and the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 to the global financial crisis of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
However, the momentum shifted permanently back to the negotiating table following the historic, world-championship gold-medal performance of Caymanian Olympian swimmer Jordan Crooks.
Construction of the state-of-the-art facility commenced on Monday, 13 July, according to posts shared on the Ministry of Sports social media platforms.
The ministry says the new multi-purpose facility is designed to stretch across four acres of land, ultimately expanding access to essential swimming and water safety programmes, improving accessibility, and creating more opportunities for Caymanians of all ages and abilities.
In addition to the 50-metre pool surrounded by a 3,000-seat grandstand, the blueprint includes a 25-metre pool with an aquatherapy lane and a gym.
The facility will also feature on-site athlete housing, an element that Cayman Aquatics president Stephen Broadbelt highlighted in 2023 as a way to boost sports tourism by offering an affordable alternative to costly hotel accommodations.
“This [facility] will be used for football, track and field, squash, you name it. We want more international events happening in Cayman,” said Broadbelt.
“One of the biggest problems with hosting events in Cayman is hotel costs, but athletes will be able to stay at the new aquatic centre. The goal is for all sports to benefit from this. We believe that it’s the trigger for sports tourism – this is the one piece missing,” he added.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Broadbelt reflected on the profound significance of the moment.
“Our athletes have consistently punched above their weight on the regional and international stage. They’ve achieved remarkable success through talent, commitment, and sacrifice, and not because they had an advantage,” Broadbelt said.
“Cayman is on the world map for swimming, and now we will have a facility that matches the talent within this country,” he added.
Caymanian swimmers react
That elite local swimming talent was out in full force to celebrate the event, sharing just how deeply emotional the milestone is for those who grew up in Cayman in the sport.
Caymanian Olympian Jillian Crooks, who attended the groundbreaking, said she has “always wanted to have a 50-metre pool here” and called the new facility “a very good steppingstone for our swimming community”.
Crooks noted that having a home 50-metre pool opens up the possibility of hosting major regional competitions, like the CARIFTA and Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation Championships, in the Cayman Islands, while also allowing elite international programmes, such as her own University of Tennessee team, to visit for training camps and other activities.
Former national team swimmer Sarah Jackson echoed those sentiments, saying, “It has been a long time coming, but that doesn’t change just how impactful it’s going to be for swimmers in the Cayman Islands [to not have to] travel overseas for long-course pool experience or to attend long-course meets.”
She drew a parallel to the immense pride she felt watching local track and field athletes compete at home during CARIFTA.
“And now being able to experience that in the sport I grew up doing and competing in is just so cool. I am so excited that the groundbreaking is here, and I cannot wait until the grand opening,” she said.
With construction underway, the Ministry of Sports has advised the public that there will be limited access to areas surrounding the site over the next few weeks, until 31 July.
To accommodate the development safely, these temporary access restrictions will be in place from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm, Saturdays from 9am to 4pm, and Sundays from 8am to 12pm.
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