St. Vincent and the Grenadines swimmer, Alexander Joachim, won 8 gold medals and 1 silver medal when he competed in Canada on the weekend and broke national that had been set by two of his compatriots
The 14-year-old athlete was among some 380 swimmers who competed at the 2017 Thunderbolts May Grand Prix Swimming Championships held at the Canada Games Complex in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada from May 26 to 28.
The Grand Prix featured in excess of 380 swimmers representing 15 swim clubs from Canada and the USA.
Joachim emerged as the overall age group champion in the age 13 to 14 category.
This was Joachim’s second outing, competing at a major Canadian swimming championship.
He had great success in his previous event where he swam as a 13-year-old.
This Thunder Bay Grand Prix is his first swim competition after turning 14 years old and he swam and competed in the 13 to 14 year-old-age category.
Joachim competed in 8 individual races and as part of a relay team in two additional events.
He qualified for the finals in all of his events.
Setting 6 personal best times, Joachim broke 3 SVG records previously held by Nikolas Sylvester and Shane Cadogan.
He won 7 individual medals and 2 relay medals, including 8 gold medals and 1 silver medal.
Joachim’s individual results were:
Overall swim champion in the age 13 to 14 category, amassing over 340 points.
- 200 metre freestyle — 5th place; 2 minutes, 13.48 seconds — personal best time.
- 100-metre butterfly — gold medal; 1 minute, 4.97 seconds — personal best time and new SVG record.
- 50-metre freestyle — silver (2nd) medal; 27.52 seconds — (personal best time)
- 200-metre individual medley — gold medal; 2 minutes, 27.58 seconds — personal best time and new SVG record.
- 100-metre breaststroke — gold medal; 1 minute 16.36 seconds.
- 200-metre freestyle relay — gold medal. Joachim swam the 50-metre last leg of the relay in a time of 26.98 seconds.
- 200-metre butterfly — gold medal; 2 minutes 25.48 seconds – personal best time and new SVG record.
- 200-metre breaststroke — Gold medal; 2 minutes 45 seconds
- 100-metre freestyle — gold medal; 59.98 seconds. Personal best time.
- 200-metre medley relay — gold medal; Joachim swam the 50 butterfly leg of the race.
Joachim is the only male Vincentian swimmer to be a multiple medallist at CARIFTA and also a multiple medallist at the Caribbean Championships (CISC).
Black Sands Swim Squad and SVG National swim coach, Kyle Dougan, said: “Alex’s performances are a terrific example for the other young developing swimmers in SVG. He shows what hard work, dedication, and discipline can achieve. Alex is a leader in the pool and we look forward to seeing him continue to improve.”