The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JUST weeks removed from the performance of the senior athletes at the world’s premier swim meet, the Bahamas’ junior athletes now take centre stage in the top meet hosted by the international governing body of the sport.

The 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, hosted in Singapore, are set to begin today and run through August 30, with swimmers from around the world vying for junior world titles and records.

The Bahamas will field a three-member team - N’Nhyn Fernander, Margaret Higgs and Lillie Higgs. The team is coached by Stacey Bradley.

Team Bahamas begins action today with both Margaret and Lillie Higgs competing in the heats of the 50m breaststroke.

The following day, Fernander will compete in the heats of the boys’ 50m breaststroke.

Bradley says that despite the gruelling journey and two days of travel to arrive in Singapore, there is much optimism surrounding the team after their first practice sessions.

“The swimmers looked good in the water yesterday. Over the next few days before the meet starts, we will continue to train and prepare for the competition. The swimmers are optimistic about their performances,” Bradley said.

“The journey to Singapore took nearly two days and we had our first chance to train in the pool yesterday. Although still exhausted the swimmers felt good and are looking forward to competition starting on Tuesday. This meet is the most elite junior competition in the world with the fastest swimmers, competition will be fierce but we are confident that our swimmers will rise to the occasion and give stellar performances. The swimmers plan to represent the Bahamas well and appreciate the support of everyone back home.”

The FINA World Juniors is geared toward swimmers under the age of 18 years old. It has been held biennially in even years since 2006.

The event is only for boys aged 15-18 and girls aged 14-17, but uses FINA’s format for determining competition ages, which means all athletes must be in that age bracket on December 31 of 2015. Since 2006, FINA organisers have hosted the competition to allow young swimmers to develop through elite level competition.

Nearly 500 swimmers between 14 and 18 years of age gather together to test their skills among an up-and-coming field.

Rio de Janeiro (BRA) in 2006, Monterrey (MEX) in 2008, Lima (PER) in 2011 and Dubai (UAE) in 2013 hosted successful editions of the event.

At the last meet in 2013, the Bahamas fielded two swimmers - Joanna Evans and Dustin Tynes - to represent The Bahamas at the fourth edition in Dubai.

The Bahamian duo is among 500 swimmers registered for the championships, which starts today. The six-day meet will take place at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Rashid Sports Complex, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In 2011, the Bahamas fielded its largest team ever at the meet, a five-member squad, including Evante Gibson, Matthew Lowe, T’Auren Moss, Bria Deveaux and Taryn Smith.