The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER making his presence felt as a three-time Olympic swimmer, Allan Murray is now embracing his new role in Bahamas Aquatics as a national team coach.

He’s not only using his wealth of experience as the head coach of the Black Marlins Swim Club, but now Murray is back for his consecutive sting as the head coach for the 2025 CARIFTA open water swim team. 

Murray, a former CARIFTA swimmer who went on to compete for the University of Georgia, made his debut as an assistant coach in Curacao before he took over the head coaching job last year here in Nassau.

Back for his second sting as the head coach, Murray said he has his sights set on watching some outstanding performances from Team Bahamas in Trinidad.

“I’m looking forward to us achieving the best results we’ve ever had in the open water swim,” Murray said. “It’s not going to be easy, considering that last year we won our first historic medal in the open water swim.

“But we will take advantage of the next few weeks to really focus on preparing them to swim their best over there in Trinidad. The waters over there might not be as crystal clear as ours, but we are preparing for the choppy waters we expect.”

Jack Barr won the historic gold medal for Team Bahamas in the boys’ 19-and-over division. 

This year’s team, according to Murray, will have to be mentally tough because swimming in a five-kilometre race is not easy “going round the buoys and taking time off in the race” if they will collect any hardware. 

Murray said the major task will be to keep the team focused considering that they will not compete in the open water swim until the completion of the swim competition in the pool where the Bahamas is going for its seventh