The Guyana Athletic Swimming Association (GASA) has selected eight swimmers who will represent Guyana in the upcoming Junior South America Swim Championships (JR PANAM) in Peru from November 8th-14th.
“Guyana’s elite male Leon Seaton and Olympian Aleka Persaud are among seven other swimmers going to the high-performance competition. Senior coaches Shyka Gonsalves and Sean Baksh along with chaperone Loren Mahaica will be accompanying the athletes,” the association stated in a release.
“GASA’s secretary Yalema Phillips will be joining the team at a later date to expand her portfolio by attending the Administrative Congress offered by CONSANAT, the South American governing swim body,” GASA added.
The swim contingent consists of athletes and coaches from several swim clubs in Guyana and is sponsored by the National Sports Commission and the Guyana Olympic Association.
According to GASA President, Dwayne Scott, “It is part of our youth development plan. We have 19 junior athletes we are working with. We have just shortlisted the team. This is in keeping with our mandate to develop the youth and to grow the sport bottom up.”
Scott added, “We see this as a building block towards the junior Pan Am games to be held in Cali, Columbia later on in the month and subsequently the CARIFTA Games that come on early next year.”
The GASA boss said he expects fair performances from the athletes.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission Kashif Mohammed is sending the contingent off with best wishes and hopes for the best outcome from the dedicated athletes.
Scott, on behalf of the parents and representatives, expressed gratitude to the government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health for their outstanding support.
Scott said that he is proud to have this opportunity considering the challenges GASA and its affiliate swim teams have been facing since the beginning of the pandemic. He is also wishing the team well.
Team Guyana: Aleka Persaud, Leon Seaton Jr., Elliot Gonsalves, Patrice Mahaica, Daniel Claxton, Ariel Rodrigues, Amber Degoeas, Shareffah Lewis and Nathan Jackson.
Coaches: Sean Baksh and Shyka Gonsalves
Chaperone: Loren Mahaica
