The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GOLD COAST, Australia -- N'Nhyn Fernander will use his splash on Thursday in the men's 50 metres butterfly as a learning experience in his debut at the XXI Commonwealth Games.

Following on the opening performance from flag bearer Joanna Evans at the Optus Aquatic Centre, Fernander swum to a eighth place finish in the sixth of seven heats in 25.39 seconds. In the final tally he sat in 28th place overall. The 6-foot, 6-inch rising competitor, who adds the games to his appearance at the FINA World Championships in 2017, admitted that it was "not the best," but he's not going to "complain."

He still has the 100m free to compete in on Saturday and the 100m fly on Sunday.

"It's a start. I just have to get back and do better in my other events," he said.

The 19-year-old freshman at Keiser University said competing at the games is a lot different from competing in just a major swim meet like the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last year where he was 51st in both the 50m breaststroke and the 50m butterfly in personal best times of 29.75 and 25.20 respectively.

He said it was quite an experience for him going out into the Carrara Stadium with some of the other athletes representing Team Bahamas in the other sporting discipline. "It was very unique, very fun and a lot of love from the crowd," he said. "But I hope to do something like that again, so I want to come back."

In the meantime, Fernander said it was so encouraging to watch as his swimming team-mate Evans was given the opportunity to carry the flag. "It was good and it shows motivation," Fernander said. "With the guys doing so well at CARIFTA, winning for the last few years, it's good to see swimming coming out on top."

As for the remainder of the games, Fernander said once he can put his performance in the 50m fly behind him and concentrate on what he came here to do, he will be okay.