After delivering an outstanding showing at the 39th CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, Antigua and Barbuda’s national swimming squad has returned to a hero’s welcome in St. John’s, with the nation’s Sports Minister Daryll Matthew hailing the team’s efforts as a landmark moment for the country’s aquatic sports development.
In an official statement released following the team’s arrival, Matthew shared that he felt profound excitement to greet the young athletes back on home soil after their run at one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious regional age-group swimming competitions. Throughout the five-day meet, Matthew noted, every member of the delegation brought unwavering consistency and a high level of competitive excellence to every race they entered, exceeding pre-event expectations.
Leading the team’s historic medal haul was 16-year-old swimmer Anya DeGannes, who earned special recognition from the minister for her multi-gold performance and a series of new age-group records set at the championships. DeGannes was not the only standout, however: Madison MacMillan and Ellie Shaw also stepped onto the top of the podium, with MacMillan claiming gold and Shaw taking silver in their competitive divisions, both turning in personal best times to secure their places among the region’s top young swimmers.
Two male competitors, Jamie Tranter and Alessandro Bazzoni, also earned public praise from Matthew for climbing onto the podium and setting new national and age-group records during their events. The minister did not limit his commendations to medal-winners alone, highlighting the grit, dedication, and team-first spirit of Kaylee Warner, Alyssa Watkins, Christopher Walter, and Selah Wiltshire, whose consistent strong performances contributed directly to the squad’s overall successful showing.
Beyond the impressive collection of medals, Matthew emphasized that the team’s achievements extended to a range of other milestones. Multiple new national and age-group records were broken over the course of the competition, and nearly every swimmer representing Antigua and Barbuda walked away with a new personal best time, a result that underscores the steady growth of the sport across the country.
The minister also stressed that the team’s success would not have been possible without the hard work of the national coaching staff. He pointed to the staff’s months of rigorous preparation and long-term commitment to athlete development as core factors that allowed the young swimmers to perform at their best when it mattered most on the regional stage.
Looking ahead, Matthew framed the team’s performance at the 2024 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships as clear evidence that swimming in Antigua and Barbuda is moving in the right direction, with a new generation of talented young athletes proving they can compete with the best in the Caribbean. The result, he said, offers exciting promise for the future of the sport and the nation’s upcoming competitors in regional and international events.