Bahamas News
WRAP UP: CARIFTA 36 Aquatics Championships staged in Curaçao
By Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, April 13, 2023 – The 2023 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships hosted by Curaçao this past Easter break, ended after four days of hot competition between the competing countries; The Bahamas emerged on top, dominating the meet for the fifth consecutive time with 1,113 points and 85 medals.
Making a splash from team Bahamas is Nigel Forbes of Grand Bahama who broke the 15-17 boys 200m butterfly record time of 57:85 with his 54:74. 
With 37 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze the 36-member team lived up to the hype.
“The team has been training together for four weeks and the chemistry was there,” he pointed out. “The swimmers have trained hard and executed the win. I am proud of Team Bahamas.” Coach Travano McPhee told media.
Another stand out for Team Bahamas was Saleste Gibson, from the girls 11-12 100m division. Gibson pulled off seven wins for seven gold medals in the 100m butterfly in 1:09.11; 200m freestyle in 2:20.49; 50m butterfly in 30.02; 400m freestyle in 5:06.29; 50m freestyle in 28.69; 200m individual medley (IM) in 2:43.24 and 100m freestyle in 1:03.23.
Pulling up in second place at the Swimming Championships was the Cayman Islands with 752 points and 53 medals; 25 Gold, 16 Silver and 12 Bronze.
Cayman Jullian Crooks gave an impressive performance in the 50m freestyle sprint finals swimming a record breaking time of 26.08, the fastest time by a female swimmer in the championship’s 36 year history.
Adding to Caymans’ victory is Sierrah Broadbelt, the most decorated female swimmer at this year’s CARIFTA Games amassing eight gold medals.
Also, Caymans James Allison advanced to a new time of 50.99 in the 15-17, from his 53.02 last year that had him in 5th place. He is right behind Shaun Malcolm’s 50.94 set in 2006. He is now the third fastest CARIFTA Championship performer of all time.
Trinidad and Tobago was not far behind, rounding out the top three top teams. T&T earned 534 points -, 54 medals, 22 Gold, 26 Silver and 6 Bronze.
T&T’s Nikoli Blackman hit an A standard in the 100 free, setting a new personal best, beating his former time of 50.42, making a CARIFTA record with the Pan American time of 50.07, which of course gave him gold.
His record time automatically goes under the PAN AM time of 50.10.
Coming in fourth was Jamaica with 502.50 points and 30 medals; 1 Gold, 11 Silver and 18 Bronze, then the Barbados Swim team in 5th place with 474 points and 35 medals, 10 Gold, 10 Silver and 15 Bronze, rounding out the top 5 countries.
Antoine Destang claimed TEN medals under the St Lucia flag; 7 gold and 3 silver, and walked away with three meet records, the male 13-14 high point trophy, and the 13-14 most FINA points trophy; a definite win for his country.
Destang got his first CARIFTA gold in record time clocking 56.52 in the 13-14 100-fly, which is under the PAN AM
Right behind Destang claiming Silver and Bronze were Christian Jerome of Haiti with a time of 57.30 and Daren Belfon with 59.88.
The excitement continued as Guyanese, Raekwon Noel made history as the first Guyanese boy to win a medal with the country’s best ever performance.
He won the 400m freestyle clocking 4:03.57, beating his national record of 4:11.04. He now holds the title as the sixth CARIFTA junior of all time.
With another record time is Ellie Shaw of Antigua and Barbuda who swam 1:14.28 in the 13-14 girls 100m breaststroke, making her the new record holder.
Next year, the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships will take competition to the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.