The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Camron Bruney said he expects some great performances from Team Bahamas’ four swimmers before they complete competition at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, this weekend.

So far, only Lamar Taylor and Rhanishka Gibbs have seen action in the pool.

But Bruney said there’s still a lot more swimming ahead for the team.

“Lamar’s first swim was just to shake off the dust. He got in a bit late. He got in later than us and had to compete less than 12 hours after he got off a 12-hour flight to get here,” Bruney said. “So it was just shaking the dust off.

“And Rhanishka had a really good 100m breaststroke, Marvin is swimming the 100m freestyle tomorrow (today) and they also have the relay tomorrow (today).”

Prior to leaving for Doha, Bruney said he’s expecting the swimmers to produce some best times and hopefully earn some qualifying times for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, in July.

“My expectations remain the same. My expectation is for them to go out there and represent the country at the highest level as best as they can,” he said. “For those who have a chance to make the A cut for the Olympics, to go out there and really try their best to do knowing that they have the support around them in Doha and from the Bahamians in the Bahamas.”

When they first arrived in Doha, Bruney admitted that the weather conditions were chilly, but it turned out to be sunny.

“The biggest adjustment in going to places like this is really the food and getting acclimated and comfortable

with what you’re eating and putting into your body,” he said.

“The food ain’t been too bad, but it ain’t been too great, but no complaints. The city is a beautiful city and we’re looking forward to seeing how well our swimmers compete over the next few days.”

Team manager Gina Culmer-Taylor said the team has settled in and they are looking forward

to some great swims from them from today through Sunday when the competition wraps up for Team Bahamas.

The quartet will combine to compete in the second of four heats of the mixed medley relay today out of lane three with Taylor expected to compete in the backstroke, Gibbs in the breaststroke, Johnson in the butterfly and Russell in the freestyle.

Johnson, 18, will also be swimming out of lane six in the eighth of 12 heats in the preliminaries of the men’s 100m free. His other event will be the 100m butterfly.

Russell, the only other competitor yet to see competition in an individual event, will be entered in both the women’s 50m breaststroke and the 50m butterfly. Taylor has the 50 free and back and Gibbs still has the 50m free to go.