Camana Bay Aquatic Club swimmers Lila Higgo, Avery Lambert and Lauren Hew will represent the Cayman Islands at the FINA-sanctioned 2021 UANA Tokyo Olympics Swimming Qualifier meet this weekend, April 29 – May 2​, in Clermont, Florida. 

The Swimming Union of the Americas, Union Americana de Natación​ (UANA), is the international governing body of the Western Hemisphere for amateur aquatics. Over 330 athletes representing more than 50 countries will participate at the meet being held at the Orlando Health National Training Centre. 

Hayley Palmer, Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) Head Coach said the meet was a significant opportunity for swimmers to qualify for the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, the 2021 Junior Pan American Games​ and other upcoming international events alongside elite-level athletes from many different countries. 

“Due to the pandemic travel restrictions, there have been very few opportunities for swimmers from Cayman and the wider Caribbean to swim and race qualifying times for the Tokyo Olympics and other big meets,” she said. “Our swimmers are looking forward to returning to international competition which always pushes them to swim their best. With so many elite swimmers in attendance at this meet there is guaranteed to be some great racing.”

Lila Higgo said she was looking forward to the opportunity to race internationally given her team had been unable to attend their usual overseas travel meets.

“We have been lucky in Cayman to be able to continue our swim practice and our local swim meets over the past year, but we have really missed the international competition. I am really excited about representing Cayman at such a big swimming event like this one.”

CBAC club swimmer Lila Higgo, age 14, will race events: 50m and 200m backstroke, 50m, 200m and 100m breaststroke, 200m and 400m individual medley, and 100m freestyle. Lila will join her overseas-based teammates Lauren Hew, aged 21, and Avery Lambert, aged 17, in Florida. Lauren will race events: 50m butterfly, 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, and Avery will race 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events.

Other swimmers representing the Cayman Islands at the UANA Tokyo Olympics Qualifier​ include Jordan and Jillian Crooks, Harper Barrowman and James Allison. 

Live stream of the meet will be available at:   https://www.panamsportschannel.org/

IMAGES:

1. Lauren Hew

2. Lila Higo

3. Avery Lambert