Coach calls for swimming to have National Sport status

Bermuda national coach Ben Smith has launched a passionate endorsement of his swimmers, saying they deserve more respect.

Smith’s comments come on the back of his team claiming 14 medals at the Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation Championships in Costa Rica — and he believes it is time swimming is awarded Government ‘National Sport’ status.

Lisa Blackburn claimed six golds, while young Jesse Washington set down a marker for the future, overcoming some sluggish starts to bring home a silver and a bronze.

There are now high hopes for more medals at the forthcoming Island Games in Bermuda next week and Smith says it’s high time people sat up and took notice of what the country’s swimmers are ere doing.

He said in a press release: “We are hoping that the results of this meet, along with the results of the recent Coral Springs Invitational, the Carifta Championships and indeed the last several years of results, will be noticed and will allow Bermuda Swimming to reach ‘National Sport’ status and enable us to get the support that will take us to the next level in international competition.

“We have a great mix of young future stars and veterans that have shown their worth year after year. The personal sacrifices, time and hard work that all of our swimmers, volunteers, 
parents and supporters put in are incredible, and a real testament to the discipline needed to excel in this sport.”

“We remain quietly patient and optimistic but it is time that this sport receives the credit that it deserves. Our dedicated athletes have been delivering impressive results for a number of years now and these results should be enough to garner the necessary support so that we can continue to represent our Island internationally, continue to bring home the medals and continue to develop these individuals into residents that will contribute to our Island’s future success.”