Young Olympian Aleka Persaud and Olympic hopeful Leon Seaton Jr. departed Friday for Melbourne, Australia to represent Guyana at the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
Persaud, Coach Sean Baksh and Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Secretary Yelema Phillips departed Guyana and will be joined by Seaton in Miami, where he is currently on a FINA scholarship.
According to GASA, both athletes will be participating in their best events, the 100M and 50M freestyle races. Both Seaton and Persaud hold the national records in these events. GASA indicated that they are hopeful that the swimmers can improve on these times whilst in Australia. During the championships, FINA will be holding a Congress and Phillips will be the delegate representing Guyana. Philips, who was elected vice-president at the recent GASA elections held in November, is also the newly elected treasurer for CONSANAT is charged with driving the agenda for a larger role for Guyana in the South American and Pan-American regions.
Guyana would have been lobbying to host regional meets and will hope to realize this with the help of Phillips.
She will be returning home today but the rest of the team will depart Melbourne on December 19. “GASA extends gratitude to TRAVEL SPAN for the support with flight arrangements, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and in particular, subject Minister Charles Ramson Jr., for their efforts in making this possible,” a release from the association stated.
Appreciation was also declared to the members of GASA including the executive and council for their efforts in drive to move the sport forward.
