Junior swimmers Britany van Lange and Ronaldo Rodrigues have been selected by the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) to compete at the International Swimming Federation (FINA) Short Course World Championships which will be held from December 15 – 19 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
They were selected based on their leading performances in the sport throughout the year.
Secretary of GASA Karen Pilgrim yesterday confirmed that the two have been chosen and noted that travel arrangements for the team are currently underway. And managing the two juniors will be swimming coach Joan Lowe.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday, Pilgrim said that while this is the first international event for van Lange and Rodrigues it is hoped that the experience gained will play a major role in their development.
“It will be their first major meet, it will be a wonderful opportunity to give them a gauge to see how they measure up against world standards swimming. They will get to meet international swimmers, hopefully they will get an opportunity to speak to them and get advice,” Pilgrim said.
This will be Guyana’s first time at the event, as in the past years financial woes had crippled the associations ability to have someone attend. This time, however, the venture will be funded largely by a grant from FINA.
Earlier this month Pilgrim had disclosed that the association was looking to give the experience to two of their junior swimmers, as the senior swimmers would be occupied with making qualifying times for the Pan American Games.
The duo are considered to be the prime of Guyana’s junior swimmers and both embrace a legacy of national records in the various age groups that they have passed through.
Rodrigues specializes in the breaststroke events and still holds seven national records, beginning with his 45.66 seconds record in the boys 8 and under 50m breaststroke. Also with a string of records beginning as early as 2007, van Lange dominates in the girls freestyle events, and also participates in the breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly events.
Rodrigues also has records in the butterfly, freestyle, and individual medley events while van Lange has five national records in freestyle events with other records in butterfly and backstroke events.
When Stabroek Sport caught up with the duo yesterday at their school, Bishops’ High, both expressed their elation over being given the opportunity to extend and compete at such a prominent event. A smiling van Lange stated that she will be going there with a goal of at least being able to better her timings while hopefully picking up some invaluable experience.
Rodrigues said that being their opening performance at an international meet of that level the main focus will be on gaining experience while he is not too certain on his chances of achieving a medal.
“I feel really good and excited about being selected to go. We’re going for the experience at the international level, and I’m looking forward to meeting some of the international swimmers who are going to be there. I’m going out there to better my time I’m not really sure about medaling because it’s for the experience, but I’m going out to do my best,” Rodrigues stated.
At the championships the pair will be able to participate in any number of events, limited only by their capabilities.
