Guyana’s two Olympic swimmers Andrew Fowler and Aleka Persaud are expected to make an early departure for Tokyo, as they get involved in a training camp.
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) training camp is being hosted in Tokyo, Japan, during the weeks prior to the Olympic Games and Guyana’s two candidates will not miss the preparatory event.
Dwayne Scott
Persaud and Fowler will jet off for the camp in the new week, that will see participation from some of the world’s best swimmers who are competing at the Olympic Games.
According to Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA)President Dwayne Scott, the duo will benefit significantly from the exercise.
Aleka Persaud
“To her (Persaud) benefit, all the swimmers who will be at the Olympic Games are exposed to the FINA clinic. So, she will be exposed to international athletes in a camp system undergoing FINA approved preparatory work alongside FINA coaches, and FINA athletes in Tokyo, which is basically where the swimming event is going to be held,” Scott disclosed.
The Guyanese pair, who were awarded universality spots by FINA to participate in the Olympics, will have many eyes on their performances.
The GASA President is optimistic that they can record some personal best times.
“What I would like to see from both athletes is for them to put up their best time, their personal best time. I’m confident that Aleka can do that, I’m also confident that with the preparatory work that Mr Fowler was undergoing, he should be able to do that,” an expectant GASA President said.
Touching on the fact that the swimmers had not made the Olympic qualifying standard, Scott added, “Just remember that, both athletes are there not because they would have made an Olympic qualification time. What we would hope coming out of this event that they could at least put up a time that can allow them to meet the minimum qualification time, even if it’s at the Olympics.”
As many would know, Persaud was not the initial female swimmer pegged for the quadrennial event. In this instance, Scott divulged on the scenario that caused Jamila Sanmoogan to be replaced.
“Athletes who go to the Olympics on the universality position, would have first had to be at the World Championships, which usually happens at the end of the calendar year. And they would have had to identify with the FINA point system. Now if you would have had more than one athlete who would have been at the World Championship, it would mean that the athlete with the highest FINA points will be the athlete that FINA will select,” Scott advised.
Andrew Fowler
“What has happened is because of the pandemic and the absence of a World Championship last year. FINA, even though they have recognised Jamila as the athlete who would have been at the World Championship, the previous year, based on developments that would have happened in the fraternity, athletes may have been injured, may not have been active anymore, they then went on to say ‘the athlete with the highest FINA points which will ultimately mean the athlete who may have put up one of the fastest times in last year or two, would have been the athlete who should be representing the country.”
According to Scott, on this basis, Persaud was the one to have put up the faster time at the CARIFTA Games, allowing her to accumulate more points.
“So, it wasn’t a case in which we didn’t even, we actually query this with FINA because we would have already prepared Jamila to be at the Olympics,” Scott added, noting that the GASA was careful about the switch.
The training camp is slated for July 11 to 23 and the Guyanese swimmers will be accompanied by Coach Shyka Gonsalves.
