History made with a ‘back’ splash; 12-year-old Rohan wins first CARIFTA Swim medal for TCI

#Providenciales, April 21, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – A game changing moment and undeniable momentum for the sport of swimming which has been gaining traction and notoriety in the Turks and Caicos Islands with the historic performance of Rohan Shearer today; young Shearer won the country’s very first medal in the pool at the CARIFTA level.

The CARIFTA Swim Games are being held in Bridgetown, Barbados and Shearer earned a silver medal in the 50m backstroke and once news broke, so did the stream of congratulatory and celebratory reactions. 

It was just four short years ago that the Turks and Caicos made its return to the Swim CARIFTA Games in 2015, with one athlete representing the country.  In the years to follow, swimmers continued to chart personal bests and right on cue, Shearer has done the fantastic… the young man has thrust the sport and his team mates into a dazzling new spotlight. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government Department of Sports posted this at its Facebook page: “Rohan Shearer wins first TCI medal at CARIFTA Swim! The Turks and Caicos Islands are now in the history book of CARIFTA Swim. Shearer finished second in the 11-12 50M Backstroke with a time of 31.92. This time qualifies him for CCCAN which will be hosted in June this year! Congratulations Rohan Shearer and the TCI Swim Federation!”

Young Shearer is competing in the U 11-12 age category and was the youngest in the field at just 12 years old.  Rohan, we are told trains in the United Kingdom and is the son of Phillip and Christine Shearer.

Chloe Zimmerman of the TCI Swim Federation and co-founder of the Race for the Conch tonight explained that her joy is indescribable, that “she is walking on the clouds!”

CORRECTED FROM TCI NEWS DAILY:  Not in the U 15-17 age group, was in the U 11-12 age group.

#magneticmedianews

#rohanshearer

#carifta2019