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Turks & Caicos Makes Waves at World Aquatics & Goodwill Championships

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, August 01, 2025 – Last month, Turks & Caicos’s Ethan Gardiner and Arleigha “Lee” Hall represented the nation at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, facing off in elite international competition from July 27 to August 3. Hall swam the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle, while Gardiner contested the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

A standout moment: Sixteen‑year‑old Ethan Gardiner shattered his own national record in the men’s 50m breaststroke, clocking 33.63 seconds—improving on his previous 33.97 from CARIFTA earlier in the year. That time marked the first-ever appearance by a Turks & Caicos swimmer in a long-course heat at the world championships—a historic milestone for the TCISF.

While neither athlete advanced beyond preliminary heats, their presence alone signaled growing ambition from a federation forging its place on the global stage. Hall and Gardiner demonstrated competitive poise and national pride alongside swimmers from more established programs.                                                                                                                             Up next: the 29th Goodwill Swimming Championships, held August 15–17, 2025 in Barbados.

This year Northern Caribbean spotlight intensifies as Turks & Caicos competes as a full member federation for the first time—not merely as an invitee. That membership was formally accepted after a two-year application process led by TCISF delegates Roydoya Alleyne, Bennett Williams, Lincoln Martin, and Shanwell Gardiner.

The Turks & Caicos flag will officially appear on the championship’s cover page—a visual emblem of recognition and inclusion.

The team heading to Barbados comprises nine swimmers, supported by two coaches and one team manager. With expanded representation this is the largest Turks & Caicos squad yet at the Goodwill Games, reflecting the federation’s upward trajectory.

In summary:

  • Singapore: Gardiner and Hall achieved key personal and national benchmarks, highlighted by Gardiner’s record-breaking swim.
  • Barbados Goodwill GamesTurksCaicos enters officially into a more competitive, member-based structure.

This dual appearance caps a transformative summer—TCISF is steadily moving from hopeful newcomer to an organized, recognized force in regional and international swimming. As momentum builds, the focused question now becomes: what’s next? Will more records fall, more qualifiers emerge, and more history get written under the TCI banner?

Caribbean News

Team Trinidad & Tobago Makes Waves with Historic CARIFTA Aquatics Performance

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April 14, 2026 – Team Trinidad and Tobago delivered one of the most commanding performances at the 2026 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, finishing third overall in swimming and second in athletics, signaling a powerful resurgence on the regional stage.

Competing in Martinique, the swim team amassed an impressive 747 points and 59 medals—20 gold, 19 silver and 20 bronze—in what officials are calling a historic showing. The result marks a significant step forward from previous years, reinforcing the country’s growing strength across disciplines and age groups.

Standout performances came from a deep and talented squad. Zahara Anthony led the charge with 72 points, dominating the Girls 11–12 division across freestyle, butterfly and individual medley events. Liam Carrington followed closely with 69 points, delivering a near-flawless campaign in the Boys 15–17 category, while Marena Martinez, Xaiden Valentine and Serenity Pantin added critical points with consistent podium finishes.

The team’s strength was not limited to individual brilliance. Athletes like Micah Alexander, Ethan McMillan-Cole and Jaden Mills showcased versatility and depth, while relay contributions from swimmers including Julius Ennals and Anpherne Bernard helped secure the team’s overall standing.

The performance drew high praise from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago, which welcomed the team home in celebration of what was described as a defining moment for the programme.

Minister Phillip Watts noted, “This success is not accidental. It is the result of hard work, structure, vision, and belief. Our young athletes are proving that Trinidad and Tobago is rising again.”

He added that every performance sent a clear message across the region that the country is “not standing still… we are moving forward.”

The showing in Martinique underscores the impact of sustained investment in youth development, coaching and systems, with Team TTO emerging as one of the most complete and competitive squads at CARIFTA 2026.

With momentum now firmly on their side, Trinidad and Tobago’s swimmers are not just competing—they are setting the pace for the future of Caribbean aquatics.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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Caribbean News

Mottley Celebrates CARIFTA Champions After Stunning Relay Upset

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Barbados, April 14, 2026 – Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley rolled out a hero’s welcome for the island’s CARIFTA athletes, celebrating a team that delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the 2026 championships.

At a reception held at Ilaro Court, Mottley met with the returning team, including the country’s Under-20 men’s 4x400m relay squad—Kyle Gale, Demario Prince, Akeem Sirjue and Jamar Marshall—whose electrifying performance at the Kirani James National Stadium stunned regional powerhouses.

The Barbadian quartet surged to gold in a dramatic finish, toppling both The Bahamas—long dominant in the event—and Jamaica, whose athletes have historically controlled the CARIFTA track scene with decades of relay success.

The victory capped a high-energy night and is already being described as a defining moment for Barbadian athletics.

Speaking after the team’s return, Mottley underscored the national pride sparked by the athletes’ achievements.

“This afternoon filled me with pride. To welcome our CARIFTA athletes to Ilaro Court, to see their smiles, feel their joy and thank them personally for what they have done for Barbados, was deeply special,” she said.

The Prime Minister also announced a $1 million investment to support athlete development, including enhancements to sporting infrastructure, sports science, nutrition and training systems.

“Our young people are soaring already. Barbados must now make sure they have every tool to go even higher,” Mottley added.

The reception signaled not just celebration, but commitment—positioning Barbados to build on a breakthrough moment that has shifted the regional athletics conversation.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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GOLD & SILVER – Hall & Guerrier Fly High for Turks and Caicos at CARIFTA 2026

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Turks and Caicos, April 06, 2026 – Technical excellence early in their jumps became the defining factor for two Turks and Caicos athletes, as David Hall soared to gold in a nail-biting Under-20 high jump final at the 53rd CARIFTA Games in Grenada. Herwens Guerrier added to the country’s success with a 1.90 metre clearance to secure silver in the Under-17 division, finishing in a tightly contested field where all three medalists cleared the same height.

Both events were decided on countback — meaning the medals were determined not just by height cleared, but by which athlete did so with fewer failed attempts, highlighting the importance of precision and composure under pressure.

A wave of national pride followed the results, with congratulatory messages pouring in for the athletes who delivered under pressure on the regional stage. In a statement, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam praised both competitors, saying their “hard work, discipline and determination have made the entire nation proud,” while encouraging the wider team to continue striving as competition unfolded at the Kirani James National Stadium in Grenada.

Team Turks and Caicos finished just outside of the top ten among 28 competing nations, and anticipation is already building for what is expected to be a spirited homecoming for the standout athletes, whose performances have ignited pride across the islands.

The 53rd staging of the CARIFTA Games, held at the Kirani James National Stadium in Grenada, unfolded under warm, at times testing conditions, with intermittent showers and shifting winds challenging athletes across disciplines.

Jamaica once again asserted its dominance, capturing its 40th consecutive CARIFTA title, continuing an unmatched run in regional athletics. Among the standout performers was Shanoya Douglas, whose electrifying run in the Under-20 200 metres earned her the prestigious Austin Sealy Award — the Games’ highest individual honour — after she shattered the long-standing record of Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who went on to become an Olympic gold medalist in the 400 metres. Douglas clocked an impressive 22.11 seconds to rewrite the CARIFTA record books.

For Turks and Caicos, however, the spotlight remained firmly on the field, where two high jumpers delivered performances defined by discipline and growth. Hall’s gold medal-winning clearance of 2.00 metres marked a significant step forward in his development, improving on his 1.89 metre silver medal performance at the 2025 Inter-High Championships. Guerrier’s 1.90 metre effort in the Under-17 division similarly places him among the country’s top emerging talents, signalling a strong future for the event locally.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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