Norton envisions swimming bringing Guyana’s next Olympic medal
Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Youth Culture and Sport Dr George Norton has pinned his hopes on swimming bringing another Olympic medal for the country after bantamweight boxer Michael Parris won bronze at the 1980 Games in Moscow.
“I want to encourage you the athletes that are here remain steadfast as you swim towards that Olympic medal. That is to say somehow I hope that our chances of getting a second medal lie highly in the discipline of swimming”.
Swim Coaches from Guyana and Suriname participating in the Coach’s Clinic at the National Aquatic Centre (DPI Photo)
The Minister was at the time speaking at the opening of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) intermediate coaching clinic commenced which commenced on Wednesday at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal under the guidance of International Swimming Association (FINA) Coach Fabio Toro from Colombia. Toro is also the coach of Guyana’s Olympian Jamila Sanmoogan.
Commenting more on the clinic, he encouraged the coaches to make full use of the course and gave a charge to increase an interest in open water swimming.
GASA President Ivan Persaud revealed the clinic was long time coming and it was important for coaches to continuous be edified given the growth of swimmers.
“While we continue to struggle a bit, I think we are moving on and I am going to give you an example, in 2014, we had at our Mash meet and I am sure that the record will show, less than 50 competitive swimmers. In 2018, at our Mashramani meet, we had 129 competitive swimmers.” Persaud stated.
The clinic will see 30 local coaches and seven from Suriname undergoing intense training over a five-day period. It is understood the next clinic will be held in Suriname. (Akeem Greene)
