In a full-circle moment, former Haitian swimmer Naomy Grand’Pierre will coach Haiti's two-member swimming team at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. Grand’Pierre, who made history as the first female swimmer to represent Haiti at the Olympics in 2016, is now set to lead her younger brother Alex Grand’Pierre and 14-year-old Mayah Chouloute to the global stage.
Reflecting on her transition from athlete to coach, the 27-year-old Grand’Pierre described the experience as profoundly meaningful. "It's definitely a full circle moment for me," she shared. "When I was going to the Olympics, I was the first female swimmer and the first swimmer to represent Haiti since 1996. It was a very isolating and new experience. I'm excited to share all the things that I've learned and make sure that the two athletes attending the Games have a really good time. They feel confident and don't have to deal with the insecurities I faced."
Grand’Pierre’s firsthand experience as a trailblazer provides her with unique insights to mentor her athletes effectively. She emphasized the importance of comprehensive preparation, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. "Being the first, you're kind of the guinea pig. I had to figure everything out on my own. I think the part I’ll enjoy most is letting the athletes know every single detail, what to expect, and having the mental and emotional preparation alongside the physical training," she explained. "I'll get to coach them and also get to coach my younger self in the process."
Grand’Pierre is optimistic about the growth and development her athletes will experience in Paris. "Getting to be surrounded by the world's top swimmers helps you improve your game dramatically. They’ll be inspired, and representing Haiti, especially with all the political setbacks we've been dealing with, will make the experience even more significant."
At just 14 years old, Mayah Chouloute is set to become the youngest swimmer ever to represent Haiti at the Olympics. Grand’Pierre sees a bit of herself in Chouloute. "Mayah definitely caught the world and the team by surprise. Her determination and willingness to step into the unknown and represent Haiti makes her a very coachable athlete. I'm looking forward to getting some one-on-one time with her to make sure she's ready to embrace the moment and the opportunity."
Grand’Pierre’s younger brother, Alex, a 21-year-old gold medalist in the breaststroke at the CCCAN Championships in Mexico, is also part of the team. Coaching a sibling at the Olympics can be a monumental task, Grand’Pierre does not see her brother presenting one. "There's absolutely no challenge. Alexander is a fantastic brother. We've trained together, and coaching him is a collaborative situation. We tackle it together, and we've gone through several meets where I've been his coach. It’s always been a fantastic experience. I'm really looking forward to doing it with him at the Olympic Games."
As Naomy Grand’Pierre prepares to guide Haiti’s swimming team at the Paris Olympics, with her expertise and passion, she is poised to lead Mayah Chouloute and Alex Grand’Pierre to a memorable Olympic experience and hopefully inspiring a new generation of Haitian athletes.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond-Gadson awarded nation’s highest honour
Paris Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond-Gadson was conferred with Dominica’s highest honour, the Dominica Honour Award, on Sunday in recognition of her extraordinary achievements in 2024. LaFond-Gadson, who made history by becoming Dominica’s first Olympic medalist with her gold in the triple jump in Paris, also won the triple jump title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, earlier in March. Each of these remarkable victories marked a historic first for a Dominican athlete, solidifying her legacy as one of the country’s most celebrated sports figures.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt had previously announced that LaFond-Gadson would be honoured with the Dominica Honour Award during her visit to the island shortly after the Olympics. The formal recognition took place during the National Parade, where the Prime Minister addressed the nation, and all honorees were celebrated for their contributions to Dominica.
The Dominica Honour Award is presented annually during the Independence Day Rally to individuals who have significantly impacted the nation’s landscape. This year, LaFond-Gadson was one of 18 Dominicans and international honorees recognized. The award was presented by Dominica’s President, Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, in a ceremony that highlighted LaFond-Gadson’s exceptional achievements and the pride she has inspired across the nation.
Speaking to the media after receiving the award, LaFond-Gadson expressed that the honour was her “greatest achievement ever” and encouraged young Dominicans to pursue their dreams with dedication and passion.
The celebration of LaFond-Gadson’s accomplishments does not end with Sunday’s parade. A luncheon hosted by a private sector organization was scheduled for Monday in her honour, extending the nation’s gratitude for her contributions. Her recognition comes in addition to being named a Sports Ambassador two months ago, along with receiving a $400,000 gift and a land grant from the government.
Prime Minister Skerritt, in his address, acknowledged the immense pride that LaFond-Gadson has brought to Dominica, calling her achievements a source of inspiration for the entire nation. With her historic Olympic victory and her continued dedication to her country, Thea LaFond-Gadson has undoubtedly secured her place as a Dominican icon.
T&T's Dylan Carter cops gold in men's 50m freestyle at Swimming World Cup
Trinidad and Tobago’s ace swimmer Dylan Carter secured his second gold of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup Series as he produced a breathtaking performance to land win the men’s 50-metre freestyle in Singapore on Thursday.
Carter, a three-time Olympian, won the event in a brisk 20.82 seconds and left the field in his wake as he was the only swimmer under the 21-second barrier in the final. He won ahead of Australia’s Isaac Cooper (21.01s) and Germany’s Marius Kusch (21.04s).
The 28-year-old Carter is expected to line up in the heats of the men’s 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle on Thursday’s evening session before bringing the curtains down on his campaign in the men’s 50m butterfly on Friday.
Alfred grateful for continued recognition after Olympic success in Paris
St. Lucian Olympic champion Julien Alfred is grateful to continue to receive recognition for her historic achievements at the Paris Olympics in August.
On Wednesday, the 23-year-old took home the award of best female athlete of Paris 2024 at the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) Awards ceremony held in Cascais, Portugal.
Alfred stormed to a historic 100m gold medal in Paris, the first Olympic medal in St. Lucia’s history.
“It’s truly an amazing feeling getting the love and support. I was not expecting so many praises, tonight especially, but it’s an amazing feeling knowing that my sacrifices and hard work are being celebrated and I’m truly grateful for it,” Alfred said after receiving her award.
She also spoke of her status as a role model for youngsters in St. Lucia and the importance of making them feel like nothing is impossible once you work towards it.
“It’s truly inspiring. Growing up, I looked at Usain Bolt and Levern Spencer, one of my countrywomen, but to be able to be standing here inspiring the youth is something that I’ve always dreamt of and it makes me feel like all my hard work is paying off,” she said.
“Now it’s time to continue to inspire the nation and the youth that no matter where you’re from, you can always work towards your dream,” she added.
Another history maker, Botswana’s 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, took home the award for best male athlete at Paris 2024.
The award for best male team went to Denmark Handball while the best female team went to Italy Volleyball.
The best male team in individual sports award went to Japan Artistic Gymnastics while the female award went to Great Britain Track Cycling.
Austria’s Lukas Mahr and Lara Vadlau took home the award for best mixed team while Chinese six-time Olympic Table Tennis champion Ma Long and New Zealand’s eight-time Olympic gold medallist in canoeing Lisa Carrington took home the male and female outstanding career awards, respectively.
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