The BVI Barracudas Swim Team made a splash at the Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) 2023 Short Course Championships, bringing home an impressive haul of 20 medals.
The team, comprised of 16 swimmers aged between 7 and 16, competed against the St Thomas Swimming Association, Inc. Stingrays and the St. Croix Dolphins.
The BVI team set the tone for the competition with a win in the first event, the Mixed 8 & under medley relay. This victory was a harbinger of the great finishes that followed. The top finishes included:
- Arun Bissoondutt (9), Boys 8 & Under, secured three first-place finishes and one second-place finish.
- William Vergel (7), Boys 8 & Under, clinched third place in the 25m Breaststroke.
- Skylar Steer (8), Girls 8 & Under, a new swimmer, secured two second-place finishes.
- Naya Bissoondutt (7), Girls 8 & Under, won first place in the 25m Backstroke and third place in the 25m Breaststroke.
- Lily Carey (11), Girls 9-10, secured two second-place finishes and one third-place finish.
- Princess Samantha Vergel (13), Girls 11-12, secured second and third places in her events.
- Jemima Peliwan (11), an 11-12 swimmer, secured third place in the 50m Freestyle.
- Charlie Potgieter (14), Boys 13-14, secured second and third places in his events.
- Jack Morris (16), Boys 15-17, secured second and third places in his events.
Despite not having a training pool or flags to train with, the BVI team, which mainly trains in the ocean with occasional sessions in pools, achieved many new personal best times. They also competed in new events for the first time including the Mixed 8 & Under Freestyle Relay and Girls 8 & Under Freestyle Relay.
In a Facebook post sharing the details of their participation in the event, the BVI Barracudas Swim Team extended their to Bananakeet Restaurant for allowing time once a week for training, and to Nanny Cay for providing the team with three sessions in their pool in the week before the Championship Meet.
The team’s success was also credited to the generous support of sponsors who helped with travel, accommodation, and other expenses for the meet. Sponsors included ATU BVI, Conyers, Capriccio di Mare, Aquatic Rentals, The BVI Government, and other individual donors.