Sports
BVI to get international standard swimming pool
By MERRICK ANDREWS
Online News Editor
The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC) said it has secured the donation of a 25-metre “international competition standard” swimming pool valued at $400,000 from Panam Sports.
The “short course” pool will be installed and managed by the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on Tortola, British Virgin Islands, according to the BVIOC said in a press release.
In comparison, an Olympic-size swimming pool must be 50-metres long and is known as a long-course pool.
The BVIOC said the project came to fruition after six months of discussions between President of the BVIOC, Ephraim Penn; Secretary General for Panam Sports, Ivar Sisniega; and President of the HLSCC, Dr. Richard Georges.
World Aquatics — the international swimming federation, formerly known as FINA – is also supporting the project.
“Preparatory work on the proposal included a meeting with the President of the BVI Swimming Federation, schematics from Myrtha Pools received through Panam Sports and a rough order of magnitude,” the BVIOC said.
Myrtha Pools is a swimming pool contractor operating out of Castiglione delle Stiviere in Italy.
“Dr. Georges initially approached the BVIOC in July with an offer of partnership for the installation of a swimming pool following a response I had given to a question on the status of swimming in the territory at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games press conference,” said President Penn in the release “This was a timely outreach that came on the heels of a Panam Sports National Olympic Committee Consultation meeting that Secretary General Lloyd Black, Treasurer Mark Chapman and I attended in Miami in May 2022.”
Pan AM Sports’ Sisniega added: “A short course 25 meter pool is the ideal sized pool for a small country, since it would allow the swimmers to compete in official distances, while at the same time supporting a learn to swim program that would help develop local talent and, more importantly, give the opportunity to many of the local children and youth the opportunity to learn to swim properly and to engage in this sport on a regular basis.”
Officials said the donation of the swimming pool to the BVI is a pilot for other national Olympic committees in the Caribbean.
The Committee ssaid the project is aligned with the College’s master plan as the swimming pool supports its marine and maritime curriculum as well as its vision for the student experience.
The BVIOC also disclosed that the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has been invited to oversee and manage the preparations and construction of the facility.
“Swimming and water safety are essential life skills and should be taught at a young age. The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports has been considering the prospect of delivering this necessary component of the national curriculum. Thus, we are pleased that HLSCC has collaborated with the private sector to deliver a facility that would open up access to many aquatic disciplines, thereby giving all students and the wider community the opportunity to be taught water safety and to engage in aquatics. I commend Dr. Georges, Mr. Ephraim Penn and the parties involved in the project and thank Panam Sports and World Aquatics for their commitment to the BVI through the BVIOC,” said Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Sharie de Castro, was quoted as saying in the press release.
“The next step in the process is to put the proposal together for the funding for the civil works and ancillary elements of the aquatics center such as the administrative offices, changing facilities, gym and therapy area, stands, storage rooms etc,” said Dr. Georges, who has identified potential financiers for the project.
The British Virgin Islands Barracudas Swim Team returned from the 2024 Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) Short Course Championships in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with 47 individual medals along with three second-place relay finishes, a vast improvement from last year’s 20 medals.
“We’re incredibly proud of the Barracudas’ achievements this year,” said a team representative. “Our swimmers put in the hard work, achieving 55 personal best times, and showing immense growth with more than double last year’s medal count. Their dedication is paying off.”
The team’s success was especially evident among its youngest swimmers, with many trying new events and demonstrating advanced techniques for the first time. Swimmers as young as eight made a mark, excelling in events like breaststroke pullouts and flip turns—a challenging feat given the team’s limited access to training facilities with regulation flags and pools back home.
Leading the charge, eight-year-old Skylar Steer clinched first place in five events, including the 25m Freestyle (20.14) and 100m Freestyle (1:37.15). Teammate Naya Bissoondutt also delivered top results, securing two first-place finishes in the 8 & Under category, while fellow swimmer William Vergel placed on the podium in three events, underscoring the young team’s depth of skill and potential.
The Barracudas’ relay teams also performed admirably, with the Mixed 8 & Under Medley and Freestyle Relay teams both taking second-place finishes, adding to the team’s impressive medal count.
Older team members brought in strong results as well, with Kyrique Matthew in the Boys 11-12 category capturing first in four events, including the 100m Freestyle (1:25.26) and the 200m Breaststroke (4:06.46). Princess Samantha Vergel and Amaury Rosan-Jones also contributed significantly in their respective age categories.
“We are immensely grateful to everyone who helped make this meet possible,” noted the team, extending thanks to the VISF, event officials, supportive parents, and sponsors, including Aquatic Rentals VI, ATU, Island Shipping, John Duncan, and Nanny Cay, where the team was able to train in preparation for the championships.
Reflecting on the team’s progress, a Barracudas representative remarked, “The hard work and dedication of our swimmers has truly shone through. We are extremely proud of their achievements and look forward to more success in the future. This accomplishment is the result of a strong community effort.”
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Team BVI faced a tough battle in Puerto Rico, suffering a 51-27 defeat against Rugby Puerto Rico in an International Test Match held on Saturday, September 28 at Polideportivo Rebekah Colberg.
Team BVI’s lineup for the match included Luke Saltonstall, Burt Woodley, Stuart Cullen, Roan Thornton, Rob Lind, Tom Chapman, Issac Dawson, Jordan Ringland, Sam Thompson, Mark Wells, Jayden Williams, and Jaleel Cameron. Although they fought hard, Puerto Rico’s disciplined play proved too much for BVI to overcome.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) archery team has returned home with 2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals from the 2024 WAAm Caribbean Development Championship, held in Kingston, Jamaica. The event, which took place from September 18 to 22, gathered top talent from across the Caribbean and beyond.
Kellyann Tillac and Naomi Onwufuju each secured a gold medal, while Keandre Matthew, Javelin Frett, and Kellyann Tillac (who won two silvers) brought home four silver medals. The BVI also claimed three bronze medals, with Keandre Matthew earning two and Keyara Smith securing one.
The BVI squad, consisting of both beginner and developmental archers, competed against athletes from several regional heavyweights, including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
The competition featured athletes across multiple categories. Representing the BVI in the Recurve Beginner Under 15 Men category was Matthew Keandré, while David Persaud competed in the Recurve Developmental Men category. In the Compound Beginner Under 15 Women category, Kasadiyah Baird competed alongside Naomi Onwufuju and Keyara Smith, who took part in the Compound Developmental Under 18 Women category. Javlyn Frett also competed in the Compound Developmental Women category, with Kellyann Tillack rounding out the squad in the Recurve Beginner Under 18 Women category.
Guided by coaches Ritseeniyah Georges and Patrick Smith, the BVI archers showed significant growth throughout the championship.
Jamaica, the host nation, fielded the largest team with 34 members, and the competition also saw strong participation from countries like the Bahamas, Guyana, the US Virgin Islands, and the United States. The high calibre of competition made the BVI’s medal haul even more remarkable, as the event brought together some of the region’s best archers.
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