After two days of sunshine, the heavens opened on the third day of the 2021 Piranha Senior Invite in Plantation, Florida, for the finals but it didn’t change the course of Alia Atkinson’s dominance over the proceedings.
Coming off the back of some strong swims on the second night of competition, Atkinson continued her unbeaten run in the 50-metre breaststroke Saturday.
After posting the fastest qualifying time of a sunny morning with a 31.82, the Jamaican darling of the pool went even faster as the rains came, clocking a season-best 31.25 to win the final, bettering the 31.27 she did to win at the Southern Zone Sectional Championships last month.
Second place went to teammate South Florida Aquatics teammate Olivia Dinehart in 33.81 and third to Azura Florida Aquatics Micaela Sierra of Uruguay, who set a new personal best and national record of 34.35.
Atkinson took another decisive victory in 50m butterfly that she won in 26.97. It was the fifth time that she has dipped under 27 seconds for the event. Michaela Chokureva of Phoenix Swimming clocked 28.29 for second place while Atkinson’s teammate Paige Lane was third in 28.51.
On Friday, Atkinson put her national 100-metre butterfly record 59.94 under threat.
The Jamaican Olympian maintained her number-one seed after the morning heats when she clocked 1:01.74. In the Championship final, she surged to an early lead splitting 28.25, coming back in 32.62 to register a winning time of 1:00.87.
It was her best time in the event since the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games when she won the bronze medal in 1:00.13. It is also the fourth-fastest time of her South Florida Aquatics career.
Celina Marquez of Azura Florida Aquatics finished second in 1:02.93, not far off her national record of 1:02.33. Third went to Atkinson’s teammate, Maddy Smutny in 1:03.64.
Atkinson would then dominate the 100-metre breaststroke, winning in a season-best time of 1:08.40, a time that beat the field by almost four seconds.
Her best long-course time prior to the race was at the FINA Champions series in January 2020.
No other CARIFTA region swimmer has ever made the Olympic final in this event other than Atkinson, who did it in 2012 and 2016, who has improved her time at each outing so far this season.
Second place went to Paige MacEachern of Pine Crest in 1:12.27 and third to Uruguayan Micaela Sierra in a new national record of 1:12.73.
Grand weekend celebration planned to honour Grenada's Paris Olympic team
Grenada’s athletes to the Paris Olympic Games are set to be feted with much pomp and pageantry when they return home over the weekend, following their credible performance at the recently-concluded global multi-sport showpiece.
The six-member team comprising Kirani James, Lindon Victor, Anderson Peters, Halle Hazzard, Tilly Collymore and Zachary Gresham will be celebrated for their efforts in track and field and in the pool, as they gave Grenada much to be proud of.
Victor’s decathlon bronze, as well as Peters javelin bronze represents the Spice Isle’s highest-ever medal haul at an Olympic Games.
James, the island’s most decorated athlete, just missed out on a medal in the men’s 400m, as he placed fifth.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Government of Grenada announced that ceremonies will take place on Saturday August 17 and Sunday, August 18.
Peters, James and Victor will arrive on Saturday.
“The activities have been put in place to celebrate athletes who have brought glory and honour to our land,” said Acting Minister of Sports Delma Thomas.
“Let’s get together and be part of the grandest welcome ever, as we celebrate Grenadian resilience and excellence,” she added, while encouraging citizens throughout Grenada to organize in their various communities to participate, especially in the events on Sunday.
The athletes will be greeted by government officials, sport associations’ executives and family members, while Grenadians are invited to join the greeting party outside of the airport at 2:00pm. The weekend’s activities will also include a national motorcade on Sunday, August 18, which begins at Morne Rouge and a recognition rally at the Playing field in Victor’s home parish La Sagesse.
Thomas also hinted at some major announcements regarding the development of sports that will be made at the La Sagesse rally. Packages to honour all the Olympians will also be unveiled in a special address by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
Bahamian sports minister praises athletes who represented nation at Paris Olympics
Bahamian Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg has congratulated Bahamian athletes on their performance at the recently concluded Paris Olympic Games.
For the first time in 36 years, the nation failed to win a medal at the Olympics but, nevertheless, Bowleg has offered his congratulations to those who represented the country at the global athletics showcase, noting how difficult it is to even qualify to participate.
“The Bahamas has a proud and storied history at the Olympics, and this year, our athletes continued to build on that rich tradition,” he said in a statement.
“While winning medals is often seen as the pinnacle of success, it’s crucial to recognize that qualifying for the Olympics is an extraordinary achievement in itself. Only a small percentage of athletes worldwide earn the chance to compete on this prestigious stage. Reaching this level is a testament to the unparalleled dedication, sacrifice, and commitment of our Bahamian athletes,” he added.
He continued, “becoming an Olympian is a monumental achievement in itself, regardless of whether one wins a medal. It reflects years of grit, sweat, hard work, and relentless training. Olympians are those who have earned the right to compete on the world’s most prestigious stage, displaying exceptional athletic prowess and representing the pinnacle of sportsmanship.”
Bowleg specially congratulated Devynne Charlton who finished sixth in the Women's 100m hurdles final. The World Indoor champion and record holder was the only Bahamian to advance to a final.
“She showed grit, determination, and true Bahamian spirit on that track. Keep shining and inspiring us all. Your journey is far from over.”
He also praised Charisma Taylor for reaching the semi-finals in the 100m hurdles and Denisha Cartwright, whom he said has a promising future.
The minister lauded swimmers Lamar Taylor and Rhanishka Gibbs for representing the nation in the aquatics events.
He also praised returning Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, and made special mention of Ken Mullings, the first Bahamian decathlete, and Wayna McCoy, the first Bahamian to reach the 200m semi-final.
Also recognized by Bowleg was Mancer Roberts Sr, technical director of Bahamas Aquatics, as the first Bahamian to serve as one of 26 officials in the swimming competition.
He also noted that Bahamas Aquatics President Algernon Cargill presented medals to the 4x200m freestyle male relay winners, and former athlete Mike Sands presented medals to the men’s 400m and women’s triple jump finalists.
Finke smashes world record in impressive 1,500m gold win
Bobby Finke shattered the 1,500m freestyle world record on the final day of swimming at the Paris Olympics, successfully defending his gold medal.
The American stayed below the world-record pace throughout the entire race and finished the race in an outstanding 14 minutes 30.67 seconds, beating Chinese swimmer Yang Sun's time of 14:31.02 from London 2012.
His triumph also ensured a 124-year record stayed intact for the United States, continuing their run of having an individual male swimming champion at the Olympic Games.
Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri finished in second, while race-favourite Daniel Wiffen of Ireland earned a bronze, failing to secure a second gold after winning the 800m freestyle on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old became the first athlete from Team Ireland to win more than one medal in the Games in 28 years, bringing their tally up to six medals, equalling their best-ever haul from 2012.
Meanwhile, in the women's 4x100m relay, Team USA set another world record by winning gold in 3:49.63, breaking the record of 3:50.40 set by the United States at the 2019 World Championships.
The men's 4x100m relay team, however, were aiming to win an 11th-consecutive gold medal in the medley but were beaten to the wall by China, ending a 64-year unbeaten streak in the process.
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