On Thursday ( May 1), Jamaica’s largest contingent of artistic swimming athletes will depart Jamaica to participate in the prestigious 2025 WorldWide Invitational, set to take place from May 2 to May 4 at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex in Coral Springs, Florida. This year, the Jam United Team – which includes representation from four local clubs will send 27 athletes to represent Jamaica at the renowned event that brings together top artistic swimming teams from the United States and over 10 countries across the globe, showcasing the highest levels of skill, creativity, and athleticism.
"We are incredibly excited to again be representing Jamaica at the World Wide Invitational," said Coach of the Island Aquatics Swim Club, Robyn Chin Sang. "Our athletes have trained tirelessly, and we are confident that they will deliver outstanding performances that reflect their dedication and passion for the sport." The team of youth athletes aged 7 to 18 will compete in various categories, including novice, intermediate, and youth divisions.
“Jamaica has represented at this competition for a number of years now and we have become known for our innovative routines and strong competitiveness. This year, we are able to take our largest contingent, yet which indicates the growth of the sport – which is of course, highly technical - and all our athletes have been preparing for this event for several months with intensified training sessions over the past six weeks,” Chin Sang noted.
Chin Sang says the team is aiming to make a significant impact at the Invitational, demonstrating the strength and growing potential of Jamaican artistic swimming on an international stage. “Many of our girls will be competing in more technical categories than they did prior. We also have many girls who are very serious about the sport and with the current path we are on, with the right support, the Olympics are within reach.”
The team is supported by a coaching team comprised of National Head Artistic Swimming Coach, Olga Novokshchenova, Chin Sang as the head coach for the current delegation, Coach Wendy Lee of the Tornadoes Swim Club, Coach Yoaris Araujo, Montego Bay Dolphins Aquatics and Coach Ajoni Llewellyn and Ketana Blount of Island Aquatics Kingston and Portland.
“As a Federation, we are proud to support our athletes as they embark on this exciting journey," said Carolene Brown Thomas, newly appointed VP for Artistic Swimming within the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ). "Their participation in the WorldWide Invitational is a testament to their hard work and the growing prominence of artistic swimming in Jamaica and we have pinpointed the sport as having high growth potential locally given the natural talents of many of our young swimmers."
Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, in Jamaica has seen remarkable growth over the past few years, with increasing participation and recognition on both national and international stages. The sport, which combines elements of swimming, dance, and gymnastics, has captivated audiences with its grace and precision.