The BVI Barracudas Swim Team delivered a stellar performance at the 2024 Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) Short Course Championships, capturing 50 medals, including 47 individual medals and three 2nd-place finishes in relay events.
Competing in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands on November 2, the Barracudas not only more than doubled last year’s medal count but also achieved an impressive 55 personal bests across the team.
In a statement, the Barracudas Swim Team praised all 15 swimmers for their dedication and success, highlighting a significant improvement from the previous year’s medal haul of 20.
“The team had a phenomenal performance with many swimmers trying new events and skills,” the statement read, noting that even young swimmers excelled in technical skills like breaststroke pull-outs and flip turns despite limited training facilities.
Among the standout performances, Skylar Steer (Girls 8 & under) clinched multiple first-place finishes, including the 25m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, and 25m Butterfly. Arun Bissoondutt (Boys 9-10) also made waves with three first-place finishes in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke and the 50m Backstroke, as well as top placements in other events. Kyrique Matthew (Boys 11-12) dominated his category, securing four first-place medals, including in the 200m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle.
The Barracudas also thanked supporters, including the VISF, officials, parents, and local sponsors who contributed to the team’s success. Nanny Cay, specifically, was credited for providing essential pool training time in the lead-up to the event.
Top results below:
Skylar Steer (Girls 8&under):
1st – 25m Freestyle; 20.14
1st – 50m Breaststroke; 57.45 (B)
1st – 100m Freestyle; 1:37.15 (B)
1st – 25m Backstroke; 24.32
1st – 25m Butterfly; 23.17
2nd – 50m Freestyle; 45.24
Naya Bissoondutt (Girls 8&under):
1st – 25m Breaststroke; 28.85
1st – 50m Backstroke; 57.01
3rd – 25m Freestyle; 20.70
William Vergel (Boys 8&Under):
1st – 25m Breaststroke; 30.13
1st – 25m Butterfly; 26.89
2nd – 100m Freestyle; 1:47.51
2nd – 25m Backstroke; 26.30
3rd – 50m Freestyle; 47.45
3rd – 25m Freestyle; 20.87
Maxime Gutmann (Boys 8&under):
2nd – 50m Freestyle; 45.88
2nd – 25m Freestyle; 20.01
3rd – 25m Breaststroke; 31.52
Gavril Copaceanu (Boys 8&under):
1st – 100m Breaststroke; 2:25.99
4th – 25m Freestyle; 22.75
4th – 25m Breaststroke; 33.90
Mixed 8&Under 100m Medley Relay Team:
2nd – Team: Naya Bissoondutt (Backstroke), William Vergel (Breaststroke), Skylar Steer (Butterfly) &
Maxime Gutmann (Freestyle)
Mixed 8&Under 100m Freestyle Relay Team:
2nd – Team: Skylar Steer, Gavril Copaceanu, Naya Bissoondutt & William Vergel
Hannah Kazembe (Girls 9-10):
1st – 100 IM; 1:58.97
2nd – 400m Freestyle; 8:06.44
3rd – 200m Freestyle; 3:39.16 (B)
Orla Turner (Girls 9-10):
2nd – 200m Breaststroke; 4:41.42
4th – 100m Breaststroke; 2:10.36
4th – 50m Backstroke; 59.90
Laila Flax (Girls 9-10):
5th – 100m Freestyle; 1:55.46 (improving her time by 13.82 seconds!)
Girls 10& Under 200m Freestyle Relay Team:
2nd – Team of Hannah Kazembe, Laila Flax, Orla Turner & Skylar Steer
Arun Bissoondutt (Boys 9-10):
1st – 50m Breaststroke; 54.24
1st – 100m Breaststroke; 2:03.86 (B)
1st – 50m Backstroke; 45.83
2nd – 50m Freestyle; 37.77
2nd – 100m IM; 1:42.28 (B)
3rd – 100m Freestyle; 1:36.36
Dicaprio Donovan (Boys 9-10):
3rd – 50m Breaststroke; 1:07.95
4th – 50m Freestyle; 57.91
Lily Carey (Girls 11-12):
2nd – 50m Breaststroke; 48.15
3rd – 50m Freestyle; 36.83 (B)
3rd – 200m Breaststroke; 3:51.58
3rd – 100m Freestyle; 1:25.76
3rd – 100m Breaststroke; 1:48.74
3rd – 50m Backstroke; 45.76
Rylee Hustins (Girls 11-12):
3rd – 50m Butterfly; 46.06
4th – 50m Breaststroke; 53.94
Kyrique Matthew (Boys 11-12):
1st – 200m Breaststroke; 4:06.46
1st – 50m Breaststroke; 47.13 (B)
1st – 100m Freestyle; 1:25.26
1st – 100m Breaststroke; 1:43.00
2nd – 50m Freestyle; 37.07
2nd – 50m Backstroke; 49.13
Princess Samantha Vergel (Girls 13-14):
2nd – 50m Backstroke; 48.98
Amaury Rosan-Jones (Boys 15-16):
1st – 100m IM; 1:40.73
3rd – 100m Freestyle; 1:22.79
3rd – 100m Breaststroke; 1:52.69