Cayman swimming establishing high watermark
Young Stingray
Swim Club swimmers enjoying the opportunity to compete at a local
meet.
While the words
'Cayman' and 'swimming' have evolved into a natural island expression,
the sport of Cayman Swimming has emerged onto the world stage.
The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) was recently
named as 'having developed the most improved competitive swimming
programme across the Americas'. The Switzerland-based, worldwide
swimming authority, FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation),
bestowed this title on Cayman after years of being unnoticed in
this sport.
It has taken years of hard work, planning and community involvement
to get CIASA where they are today. The following are some of the
key factors that helped the programme develop.
The Lions Get Involved
Despite being surrounded by crystal blue waters, as recently as
the mid-80's there were many children in
Cayman who did not know how to swim. Recognizing this deficiency
as a significant safety issue was the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.
As they have done worldwide, the Lions Club turned their concern
into action and built Grand Cayman's only 25-meter pool in 1985.
The primary purpose of the facility was and remains to foster
Cayman's Learn-To-Swim program. The Lions also play host to the
National Sprint Championships in late May, where they recognize
the competitive skills honed by swimmers of all ages from across
the islands.
Flowers Need Water
Frank Flowers was a compulsive, long distance runner slowly pounding
his knees into submission. As a result, Frank choose to change
his training to sea swimming in an effort to remain fit, and reduce
the toll on his body. There was only one small problem; he first
had to learn to swim! Once Frank learned, he never looked back.
In 1993, Frank turned his newfound swimming passion into hosting
the Flowers One Mile Sea Swim. Held mid-June, this fabulous, fun
event, now attracts 600 swimmers from around the world, including
elite swimmers like Olympic Gold medalists Brooke Bennett from
the USA.
Dave Who?
In 1995, Dave Kelsheimer, a young American with coaching experience
in the USA and Australia arrived to develop the sport of swimming.
Originally hired as a Senior Swim Instructor by the Government,
he and a group of dedicated parents built the age group competitive
swimming program from the ground up. With a small group of enthusiastic
young swimmers, the age-group program caught fire, and in 1996
the Stingray Swim Club was formed. Together with his staff, and
growing parental contributions,
Cayman Islands Head Coach Dave's unyielding work ethic of proper
stroke-work, consistency of training, and the fun of improvement,
has taken Cayman from just another Caribbean swim programme into
one of the leaders in the Americas. Those same young and enthusiastic
swimmers are now some of Cayman's top athletes qualifying for
this year's Pan Am Games and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Too Much Success? CIASA & Government
Wade-In
The emergence of Coach Dave's world-class swim programme and his
over-achieving swimmers has also caught the attention of the entire
Cayman community. Today, the Lions Pool is over-subscribed and
the Learn-To-Swim programme has a heartbreakingly long waiting
list. Recognizing the need for new facilities, CIASA sat down
to discuss solutions with Dr. the Hon. Frank McField, Minister
of Sports. Dr. McField recognized the need to immediately establish
world-class aquatic facilities, and especially a 50-metre competition
pool. Although the Government is fiscally supportive of the operating
expenditures, the burden of the pool construction costs is to
fall on the shoulders of CIASA and the private sector. In order
to raise funds within the Cayman community and ensure long-term
financial health, CIASA choose to take control of their own destiny.
At its largest-ever Annual General Meeting held in February of
this year, CIASA members voted unanimously to pursue privatization,
and the construction of a 50-metre pool.
What Next?
CIASA has set an ambitious schedule to build the 50-metre pool
within the next 12-month period. If this is achieved, CIASA may
bid for the right to host CARIFTA, the Junior Caribbean Swimming
Championships, in 2004. CIASA will also look to host a FINA Marathon
Swimming World Cup in 2005, and as a prelude to bidding for the
FINA World Open Water Championships in 2006.
Many, Many Thanks to Swimming Supporters
While Cayman Airways has long been a key supporter of the developing
swim program, they have now teamed up with The Ritz-Carlton Grand
Cayman to be the major sponsors of the Cayman Islands Junior Team.
This 27-member team will compete in the CARIFTA Swim Championships
being held late April in Kingston, Jamaica. The Cayman Islands
Department of Tourism and Cayman National Financial Services have
stepped-up to become the major sponsors of the CI Senior Swim
Team. Some of them went to the World Championships in Moscow and
the Commonwealth Games last year, and all hope to compete for
Cayman at the Pan Am Games in August of this year and the Olympics
next year. Foster Brothers Limited completes the group of major
sponsors. Other companies sponsoring swim meets and sea open water
events include: Beacon Realty, C.L. Flowers, Cable & Wireless,
Caribbean Utilities Corporation, CIBC, Consolidated Water Company,
and Texaco. Together with the dedication of the swimmers and the
tireless efforts of the coaching staff and volunteer parents,
all of these sponsors are responsible for ensuring that Cayman
Swimming remains a sport with continuing success and an expression
that brings a smile and pride to all.