BVI Barracudas Swim Team Brings Home 20 Medals from VISF 2023 Short Course Championships

The BVI Barracudas Swim Team made their mark at the VISF 2023 Short Course Championships, returning home with 20 medals.

Over the weekend, 16 swimmers ranging in age from 7 to 16 competed against the St. Thomas Swimming Association, Inc. Stingrays and the St. Croix Dolphins.

Saturday’s events kicked off with a resounding victory in the Mixed 8 & under medley relay.

The star of the show, Arun Bissoondutt, aged 9, clinched four gold medals. He secured the top spot in the Boys 8 & Under category in the 100m Individual Medley (2:02.56), 25m Butterfly (26.22), and 50m Backstroke. Bissoondutt also secured second place in the 50m Breaststroke (59.21).

William Vergel, aged 7, secured a bronze medal in the Boys 8 & Under 25m Breaststroke with a time of 33.94.

Skylar Steer, aged 8, clinched two silver medals in the Girls 8 & Under category, finishing second in both the 25m Freestyle (24.69) and 25m Breaststroke (31.94).

Naya Bissoondutt, aged 7, captured a gold medal in the 25m Backstroke (29.33) and a bronze medal in the 25m Breaststroke (33.17).

Lily Carey, aged 11, secured two silver medals in the Girls 9-10 category 50m Breaststroke (52.65) and the 100m Breaststroke (2:00.25), and a bronze medal in the 50m Backstroke (54.31).

Princess Samantha Vergel, aged 13, finishing second in the Girls 11-12 category in the 50m Freestyle (45.55) and third in the 50m Backstroke (52.27).

Jemima Peliwan, aged 11, secured a bronze medal in the 11-12 Swimmer category in the 50m Freestyle with a time of 48.18.

Charlie Potgieter, aged 14, clinched a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly (40.50) and two bronze medals in the 100m Individual Medley (1:38.30) and the 50m Backstroke (42.41).

Jack Morris, aged 16, left his mark in the Boys 15-17 category, securing a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly (38.78) and a bronze medal in the 100m Individual Medley (1:26.47).

In addition to individual success, the team performed captured the silver medal in the Mixed 8 & Under Freestyle Relay and Girls 8 & Under Freestyle Relay.

Due to the lack of a dedicated training pool and the unavailability of training flags, the team conducted their training sessions at Bananakeet Restaurant once a week and had three vital training sessions at Nanny Cay in the week leading up to the Championship Meet. The team wishes to express their sincere appreciation to these generous sponsors.