The dual-island Caribbean nation of St. Kitts & Nevis is poised to mark a groundbreaking milestone in its aquatic sports history, with its first-ever national delegation set to compete at the 30th edition of the Goodwill Swimming Championships. The three-day regional competition will run from August 14 to 16, 2026, hosted at the National Aquatics Centre in Balmain, Couva, Trinidad & Tobago, following an official invitation extended to the St. Kitts & Nevis Aquatics Federation (SKNAF) by the Aquatics Sports Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT).
Established as a key developmental fixture for Caribbean youth swimming, the annual Goodwill Swimming Championships gathers emerging talent from across the region to compete across a full range of stroke and relay events. For the 2026 iteration, athletes will compete in age categories spanning from 8 years old and under through the 15–17 division, with events covering freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, individual medley, and team relays. The meet’s structure is intentionally designed to give up-and-coming swimmers exposure to high-quality regional competition, a critical stepping stone for long-term athletic growth.
After a selection process, SKNAF has confirmed its seven-member historic roster set to represent the nation in Trinidad. The delegation includes Gaj Leonce and Rhaejaan Jacobs competing in the boys’ 9–10 age group; Valentino Esposito, Teadrian Tross, and Saulo Sahely in the boys’ 11–12 division; and Jazzelle Connor in the girls’ 15–17 category. Greyson Burrell was also selected to the boys’ 11–12 team but will be unable to attend due to unforeseen personal circumstances; SKNAF has formally recognized Burrell as an honorary member of the inaugural squad and congratulated him on earning his selection. Leading the team are head coach and manager Kyle McEachnie, supported by assistant coach and chaperone Annelise Leibbrandt.
For SKNAF, this debut appearance is far more than a one-time competition entry: it represents a major milestone in the federation’s long-term strategy to grow competitive swimming across St. Kitts & Nevis. Competing against elite regional peers will give the nation’s young swimmers invaluable international race experience, helping them build the confidence, race craft, and resilience needed to progress to higher-level competitions down the line, including the CARIFTA Games and other global age-group championships. Beyond individual athlete development, the participation is expected to lift the profile of competitive swimming domestically and encourage more young people across the two islands to take up the sport.
The 30th Goodwill Swimming Championships will officially open with a opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m. local time on August 14, with preliminary competition kicking off 45 minutes later. Racing will resume at 9:00 a.m. on both August 15 and 16 to conclude the three-day meet.
In a statement following the roster announcement, SKNAF President Eldon Thomas highlighted the historic significance of the moment for the federation and the nation. “This is a proud moment for the St. Kitts & Nevis Aquatics Federation. Participating in the Goodwill Swimming Championships for the first time represents another important step in the development of aquatics in St. Kitts and Nevis. We are extremely proud of the athletes who have been selected to represent our Federation and our nation,” Thomas said.
“For these young swimmers, this is about more than competing. It is about gaining experience, building confidence, developing friendships across the region and laying the foundation for their future in the sport. We encourage each athlete to compete with determination, pride and sportsmanship and to make the most of this opportunity,” he added.
SKNAF also extended formal gratitude to the athletes’ families, local club coaches, volunteers, and community supporters who have invested time, energy and resources into nurturing swimming talent across the nation. As the team makes final preparations to travel, the federation called on the entire nation of St. Kitts & Nevis to rally behind the young athletes as they wear the national colours and compete on the Caribbean regional stage.