A young swimming program from Dominica is celebrating a breakthrough milestone, after its first-ever trip to a regional competitive event ended with three podium finishes.
The 10-member squad from Emerald Aquatics Club travelled to Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, earlier this month to take part in the 14th 2026 Ocean Spray Short Course Nationals, held on October 10 and 11. Competing against 205 swimmers from six other regional aquatic clubs, the small Dominican team held its own against far more established programs, many of which fielded squads twice the size of Emerald Aquatics’ contingent.
Three of the club’s young athletes walked away with bronze medals to cap off the successful outing. Kerniya Seaman claimed the first bronze in the women’s 400-metre freestyle event, followed by Khalil Seaman’s third-place finish in the men’s 100-metre breaststroke. Zurie Charles rounded out the medal haul with a bronze in the 200-metre freestyle.
For most of the team’s athletes, the Saint Lucia competition marked their first time competing at the regional level, a detail head coach Daley highlighted as making the result all the more impressive. In comments following the team’s return home, Daley framed the three bronze medals as a far more than just a collection of awards – it is a landmark achievement for the still-developing club. Beyond the podium finishes, she added, the courage, grit and openness to new challenges the young swimmers displayed throughout the event are accomplishments worth celebrating in their own right.
Beyond the medals, the competition offered invaluable developmental experience for the young Dominican athletes. It gave them a chance to connect with peers from other Caribbean clubs, and to see firsthand the competitive standards that define regional-level meets, knowledge that will shape their training moving forward.
Emerald Aquatics’ success comes against a backdrop of persistent structural challenges for competitive swimming in Dominica. The club openly acknowledges that local swimmers face consistent barriers to access: full-time, high-quality training facilities and regular high-level competitive opportunities remain limited across the island. Even so, the positive outcome of the team’s first regional outing has only strengthened the program’s faith in its athletes’ untapped potential.
The club credited its success to a wide network of supporters that made the trip and pre-competition training possible. It extended particular gratitude to its coaching staff for their relentless dedication and guidance, as well as private sponsors Timbos Suites and Benjos Seamoss, whose financial and in-kind support removed key logistical barriers to the trip. The organization also recognized the backing of Dominica’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, and that of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who directly contributed to expanding training opportunities for the team in the lead-up to the competition.
For team manager Nelisha Chaseau, this first medal haul is just the starting point for Emerald Aquatics. “We may be a small club, but we have big dreams and even greater determination,” Chaseau said, noting that the Saint Lucia experience has only confirmed what the program’s leadership has long believed: with consistent hard work and sustained community support, these young swimmers can achieve far more than many expect.
Looking ahead, Emerald Aquatics has laid out clear plans for continued growth. The organization intends to enter more competitive events across the Caribbean in the coming months and years, with the goal of giving more of its young athletes access to the high-level exposure and experience that helped this first team succeed. Beyond competition results, the club’s core mission remains focused on nurturing long-term personal growth: building confidence, instilling discipline, and creating lasting positive memories for young people, while helping every swimmer recognize their own potential – no matter what systemic or resource challenges stand in their way.