Crooks a split-second from glory in valiant Olympic effort

It was a razor thin margin between a podium place and the 50 metre freestyle blocks for Jordan Crooks as he swam a historic race, becoming the first Caymanian swimmer in an Olympic final on Friday.

Crooks, 22, finished eighth in the Olympic 50m final in Paris – just .08 of a second outside of bronze.

“It was not the race I wanted, but it’s ok. I was able to get into the final and race with the best people in the world. So just chalk it up to a learning experience and move on from there,” Crooks said after the swim.

Cameron McEvoy of Australia took home gold, ahead of the UK’s Benjamin Proud and Frenchman Florent Manaudou in third.

Had he swum his personal best, which he earned in the heats yesterday at the Paris La Defense Arena, Crooks would have taken bronze to become the islands’ first medallist at the Olympics.

Crooks seemed to break a record or make Cayman swimming history every time he stepped on the deck this Olympic Games. He is the first Cayman Islands swimmer ever to qualify for an Olympics Final and he broke his own national record in the event by swimming a 21.51 in the heats.

“It was close to the times I put up yesterday. A little bit slower but just motivation to try and be faster next time,” Crooks said.

“A learning experience and we can move on from there.”

Regardless of the result, the Olympian, who’s also a fisherman, has inspired young and old across Cayman with his performances en route to becoming the first world champion and now the first swimming finalist at the Olympics.

At 22, Crooks has a long career ahead of him and will surely fight another day at this level, with Los Angeles 2028 representing the next opportunity for Olympic glory.

His mother Faith Crooks, who was in the stands on Friday, paid tribute to her son.

“Congratulations Jordan,” Faith wrote on her Facebook page minutes after her son’s race.

“You have done well. I am proud of you. Thank you to everyone for your support. Cayman, I could literally hear you thousands of miles away.”

‘Thank you to everyone who has supported, it means a lot’

Meanwhile his performances have prompted an outpouring of pride and patriotism in Cayman, where thousands have followed every stroke of his bid.

Scenes from Jordan Crooks 50m free final. -Photos: Simone Castrovillari

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Back home, crowds flocked to watch parties, waving flags and sporting their Cayman colours to show their support for an athlete whose performances has united Cayman.

“Definitely been a lot of support from friends, family, previous coaches,” Crooks said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported, it means a lot. I appreciate it.”

And there was nothing but pride on display after the final for a son of the soil who had represented his islands at the biggest stage of all.

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who was among the crowd gathered at Constitution Hall, was the first to offer words of encouragement for the 22-year-old after his exploits in Paris.

“Doesn’t matter that he got gold, silver, bronze, but matter that he was on a world stage and so that we are small, but we still talawah. Proud of him today.”