There is enough talent in Trinidad and Tobago swimming to field a 4x100 metres freestyle team.
So said Minister of Sport Anil Roberts at Piarco International Airport’s VIP Lounge late on Tuesday night as he welcomed back T&T’s swim team—inclusive of 50-metres butterfly silver medallist Dylan Carter—from the fourth FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Roberts, also a swim coach who has worked with Olympics and World Championships bronze medallist George Bovell—T&T’s most successful swimmer—paid tribute to Carter and the rest of the team for their performances.
The team also included girls Tyla Martin and Kristin Julien, and boys Joshua Romany and Jonathan Ramkissoon. Dean Romany served as manager, with Franz Huggins as head coach, June Durham as physiotherapist, and Jacqueline Pantin-Romany, chaperone.
The minister would like to see a relay team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 CAC Games and 2016 Olympics, and named Joshua Romany, Caryle Blondell and George Bovell would make a good team, along with Joshua McLeod.
“There’s a new era in swimming and you all have just seen it,” said Roberts. “Take many pictures get to know him, because he’s a humble young man who is generally beautiful to talk to, very intelligent, understand what the sport is about…and has worked hard.”
Roberts also predicted that Carter, who swims several different strokes and distances, could medal at the next years Commonwealth Games, after his “fast times” of 55.37 seconds (100m backstroke), and 23.98 (50m butterfly) at the junior “Worlds”.
“He is going to have some hard decisions next year as we got Commonwealth Games and CAC Games,” said Roberts. “Already he is looking well-ranked in the 100 backstrokes. I believe already he is in the top six in the Commonwealth Games. If he can get down to 54.74 he’ll be on the podium, so that is a very short way away.”
In his brief address, Carter told the gathering of family, supporters, officials and media that he was pleasantly surprised by their support.
“It means so much to me that you all came out at this late time and all the way out to the airport to see me come home; it’s really special to me. I didn’t really expect this,” the swimmer said.
“I don’t have much to say, just thank you all for the support, I was getting all the support over there and it really, really helped. The whole team was great, everybody back home was great. I’m just really happy to be home and to see everybody again.”