Plans to enhance swimming numbers

By Jonteau Coppin

President of the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) Cheryl Lady Forde says that population size is the reason for the island’s low swimming representation in recent Olympic squads. In the last three Olympic teams Barbados have had a total of seven swimmers competing, one of whom was triathlon athlete Jason Wilson in 2016.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY in a phone interview, she stated that the pool of available swimmers played a big part with respect to representation.

“Obviously, you have to look at the general population of Barbados in comparison to several of the competitors. Then you must look at the number of swimmers actively swimming in a training programme. Right now, our membership is three hundred swimmers using the swimming pool. Now you are not going to have three hundred swimmers at the elite level. We have two dozen swimmers you would consider senior and then of course the more advanced of those you would consider advanced. From there they have to qualify for the Games which is not a walk in the park,” she said.

Lady Forde added that a big part of the reduced numbers in swimming was down to the varied sporting interests in schools.

“We have a school programme which is supported by the Government through the Sports Council where the kids are trained to swim and hopefully, they come into the training programme at the Aquatic Centre. Because the schools programme does not have a structure for swimming only, it is part of the physical education programme along with cricket, football, netball and all the other sports during a semester. Time is not dedicated to swimming,” she explained.

But the Barbados Swimming Association has plans in place to try to increase the numbers of swimmers locally. They have recently re-introduced a development meet where young swimmers who have not reached national competitive status, have an opportunity to compete.

The National Sports Council was scheduled to run a swimming camp entitled “Swim for Life” from August 8 and September 8 at various pools and at the beach but the latest directive from the Government banning summer camps has left those plans up in the air.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several problems for the BASA. Membership numbers have dropped because of the financial difficulty parents now find themselves in and pool closures have been a turn off for some of those who can afford it.

Despite this, Lady Forde noted that there are bright prospects coming through the ranks capable of reaching the elite level, such as Danielle Treasure and Adara Stoddard who both compete locally.