The talent pool for sports within the Cayman Islands is deep and wide, with many, across several disciplines, having the potential to compete on the world stage and, by extension, the Olympic Games in four years’ time, set for Los Angeles in 2028.
Though the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, wrapped up only a couple of weeks ago, with siblings Jordan and Jillian Crooks, Davontè Howell and Charlotte Webster giving their all for their country; it is likely that they will return with a number of new contenders accompanying them.
In the Cayman Islands, it’s the dawn of an era that seems be heralding a golden age for the nation’s athletes, many of whom have been going from strength to strength in their respective sports.
The next 47 months will deliver the proof in the pudding, but may also offer up some new names and talents.
Taking into consideration recent performances and rankings, the Cayman Compass has put together the following list of Caymanian athletes who could possibly be among the world’s elite for LA28.
Athletics
Athletics has produced Olympians for Cayman since 1988, from Paul Hurlston and Michele Bush to Kareem Streete-Thompson and those who followed, track and field has never been short of talent. There are many athletes outside the Compass list that could appear in LA, including Rasheem Brown, Jamal Walton and Brianna Smith, but some have bona fide 2028 Olympic trajectories, including:
Andrew Stone
The two-time CARIFTA gold medallist and Commonwealth Youth Games record holder in long jump, Andrew Stone making the Compass LA28 contenders list was a foregone conclusion.
Stone is considered to be one of the best junior jumpers in the region, closing out his world under-18 long jump ranking in the top three.
With a best jump of 7.71 metres – a leap which would have placed him above 12 competitors in Paris – the 18-year-old is now in his freshman term at the University of Arkansas. His teammate and fellow long jumper Wayne Pinnock took silver at the Paris Olympics.
Davontè Howell
Davontè Howell is the future for sprinting in Cayman. After his performance in Paris, Howell noted “there’s a lot to improve”, something he has shown he can do within months; imagine what he could accomplish in four years.
In June, Howell ran his personal best of 10.09 seconds at the North American Central American and Caribbean New Life Invitational – further improving his time as the third fastest Caymanian ever in the 100 sprint. That performance came fewer than two months before he defended his 100m title at the 51st CARIFTA Games, where he stopped the clock at 10.15 seconds.
Jaiden Reid
Jaiden Reid’s name was considered for a chance in Paris, but didn’t make the cut. The track star has been praised for his accomplishments, and expectations are high among those in the athletics fraternity.
Reid, who sits behind Howell as the fourth fastest 100m sprinter in Cayman history, is also the 200m national record holder (20.51) which he set this year. He will look to pick up speed as he sets his sights for 2028.
Boxing
Though there have been many Caymanian fighters who have passed through the amateur and professional boxing ranks, none has ever entered a ring at the Olympic Games. There are several fighters with hopes of being the first to compete at that level but only one is putting in the work needed to get there:
Christopher Hurlston
Christopher Hurlston, the most active Caymanian boxer currently, has been punching his way through opponents over the last year with the intention of attending the Paris Games.
The Yorkshire Novice champion was unable to make the qualifiers but vowed that if the controversy surrounding the sport cleared, he would “101% for sure” be at the next qualifiers. His hope is not only to be the first Caymanian boxer at the Games but plans to bring home a medal for his efforts.
Cycling
It’s been 28 years since the Cayman Islands has been represented in cycling at the Olympics – a sport that laid the foundation for the nation at those Games. Caymanian cyclist Merilyn Phillips was the first woman ever to represent Cayman at the Olympics. That was in 1984 and no other woman has made it back to the Games in that sport since, but many men have, and another might join that list in LA28.
Nathaniel Forbes
Nathaniel Forbes, the country’s greatest hope for cycling to return to the Olympics, has been training and competing tirelessly over the last two years to achieve that goal.
Forbes, the highest-ranked Caymanian cyclist, has ridden with clubs in Portugal and Colombia to gain experience and train with those who can prepare him for the big time.
He will continue his journey in the sport despite many obstacles and plans to be at the next Olympics.
Sailing
Sailing produced Cayman’s first Olympians with other sailors following through the years. It’s arguably the toughest sport to break into due to the expense, but dedicated Caymanian athletes have found the funding to enable them to sail against the best.
Charlotte Webster
Charlotte Webster indicated that she would go for the sequel after she achieved her dream of representing Cayman at the Paris Games.
Webster, the best current overall sailor from Cayman, told the Compass her plans are “probably LA 2028, but we’ll have to see how that goes”.
She will have time to decide but should Webster attempt to qualify for another Olympics, she will do so with experience on her side.
Swimming
Out of all the sports on the list, swimming has arguably the largest crop of athletes peaking at the right time, and Caymanian swimmers have competed at the Games since 2004. And swimmers like Kyra Rabess and Lila Higgo could very well be on the cusp of producing Olympic standard times.
Jordan Crooks
The most obvious contender to make the list is one Jordan Crooks.
He is not only capable of qualifying for the biggest sporting event in 2028, as shown in the Paris Games but he also proved at that event that he can swim to the finals.
Though time will tell, Crooks, at just 22 years old, is the fastest swimmer ever from the Caribbean, and it appears his chances for Los Angeles are greater than anyone else.
Brett Fraser
Brett Fraser making the list may come as a surprise for some but he has proven before that he can take a break from the sport and return to qualify should he set his mind on it.
Now 34, Fraser doesn’t have Olympic ambitions, but he recently noted to the Compass that he isn’t fully against a return either, perhaps on a relay team.
He is the second fastest swimmer from Cayman behind Crooks and a mixed team involving the two along with Jillian Crooks, the fastest female from Cayman, and force-to-be reckoned with Sierrah Broadbelt, Cayman could hold their own against the world’s best.
Jillian Crooks
Jillian Crooks will more than likely be a three-time Olympian when she turns 22 the year of the Los Angeles Games. The fastest woman ever from Cayman is entering her freshman year at the University of Tennessee on the heels of competing in Paris.
Tennessee has produced many Olympians over the years, including her brother Jordan, who excelled through that university’s programme, and the same is expected from Jillian as she begins her time at the elite swimming school.
Sierrah Broadbelt
At only 15 years old, Sierrah Broadbelt is on track to superstardom, as the swimmer already holds both the short- and long-course 200m butterfly senior national record.
Broadbelt comes from behind to break 200m fly national record
Broadbelt holds the record in the long course with a time of 2:16.79 seconds, which would have positioned her above three competitors coming out of the heats for the 2024 Olympics and a reserve spot for the semi-finals.
With four years to go, one would think she can only continue to get better and may find herself on a relay team or possibly competing in the fly.
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