Brett and Shaune storm Pan Ams

The Fraser swimming brothers
put the Cayman Islands on the map in the men’s 200 metres freestyle at
the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on Tuesday. 

Brett, 24, won gold in a Games record time and Shaune, 23, took silver. Brett won in 1:47.18 and Shaune’s time was 1:48.29.  

Paraguay’s Ben Hockin took bronze in
1:48.48. Brett crushed an historic Pan American Games record in the
process, as Gustavo Borges’ 1995 time of 1:48.49 fell by the wayside.
Fraser bettered his 22nd-ranked season best of 1:47.56 to move to 14th
in the world rankings.  

“I’m so happy for those two hard working
boys. They are so awesome. I think if they rest enough they can get more
medals. They won’t just cruise, they are still riding the crest of the
wave,” said mum Laurice, who watched on TV here. Dad Jim is in Mexico
with their sons. 

“Going up to high altitude in Mexico two
weeks early really paid off. I saw photos of them and thought they
looked in the best shape of their lives. This has made the Cayman
Islands very proud. They are coming home during the Thanksgiving break
and will talk to the youths to try to inspire them,” she said. 

The Frasers are having a fantastic meet.
Shaune won bronze in the 100m freestyle on Sunday. They have several
more events to swim so this may not be the end of their medals tally.
This performance augurs well for the 2012 London Olympics where they
hope to be in medal contention.  

“With hearts full of pride and joy the Board
of CIASA joins Cayman’s Swim Family and indeed our whole country in
congratulating Shaune and Brett Fraser. These two brothers and indeed
their whole family have committed so much, and for so many years, to the
vision of achieving this level of success, they deserve all the praise
that is now flooding in their direction,” read a statement from the
Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association. “Their hard work,
commitment, dedication and humility; along with the outstanding support
of their family – Jim, Laurice and Kyle – is truly representative of the
very best of Cayman. 

“Whilst we take a moment to celebrate, the
focus will soon shift to a certain swim meet in London in 2012,” the
statement read. “All of the Cayman Swimming and sporting family will
continue to support them in the year ahead as they journey to the
Olympics.” 

Lara Butler and Tori Flowers are also representing Cayman in swimming at the Pan Am games. 

The Pan American Games are the second
largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympic Games. The
competition is held between athletes from nations of the Americas, held
every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games.  

Also representing Cayman are: Michael
Letterlough, Hammer Throw; Carl Morgan, Long Jump; Carlos Morgan, Long
Jump; Junior Hines, 400m Hurdles; Jon Rankin, 1500m; Edison McLean,
Trap; Christopher Jackson, Trap; and Equestrian Jessica McTaggart,
Dressage Individual. 

Accompanying the athletes are their
technical staff with Bruce Blake heading the team as the Chef de
Mission. The Team Manager for Athletics is Michael Nalty and Athletics
Coach is Kenrick Williams. Bethany Cook is travelling as Swimming’s Team
Manager and Physiotherapist along with Coach Dominic Ross. The Team
Manager for Equestrian is Mary McTaggart, the Groom is Cristhopher De
Lara and Jessica’s horse “Ray of Light” is with her in her event.
Shooting will be sending Team Manager Kevin Schirn and the General Team
Physiotherapist is Al Bartice. The CIOC President Donald McLean and
Secretary General Carson Ebanks are also be in attendance, along with
family and friends of those participating. 

The Games end 30 October.