Kester Edwards, a former board director of Special Olympics International, and Special Olympics Cayman Islands under the leadership of Maxime Everson organised the first international Special Olympics open water swimming clinic on Grand Cayman.

Over 25 coaches and open water swimming athletes from the Caribbean nations and North America participated in a 3-day workshop.

The athletes did a POW (Pool Open Water) session, had classroom instruction, watched videos of races around the world, and participated in the Butterfield 800m Sea Swim on Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman.

Kester Edwards is passionate, committed and professional. He worked hard and long, together with Jon-Paul St. Germain, to get open water swimming into the Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Kester, originally from Tobago and now of Washington, D.C., was one of the first International Global Messengers of the Special Olympics. He travelled and spoke around the world to spread the message of the Special Olympics. Kester with his dynamic personality and unflinching drive, has been a true leader in the open water swimming movement.

“There are more than 250,000 Special Olympics coaches around the world. And so for Penny to win this international award is really something we cherish,” explained Special Olympics Cayman Islands Board Director Maxine Everson.