Coach confident Jamaica will do well at Goodwill Swimming Championships
Published:Saturday | August 19, 2023 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
National swimming coach Gillian Millwood is backing her young team to perform very well at the 2023 Goodwill Swimming Championships which opened at the National Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Jamaica finished a close second to Trinidad and Tobago last year and Millwood said as long as they focus on preparation, the results will come.
“It’s a very good start in terms of the opening ceremony. Lots of excitement and the kids coming out and enjoying the moment and seeing new people.
“For a lot of these kids it’s their first time, so they are just excited and some are overwhelmed but it is just to get that first swim,” she said.
She insists that whatever an athlete puts out in training, they will get in competition, so her focus was getting the swimmers to put in the work.
“The result is what you put in. If you focus on the result and don’t put in anything, you are going to get a bad result,” she said.
Although they fell short last year, Millwood said they have continuously improved all the various areas and that has boosted her hopes for the championships this year.
“Every year we do better, whether in medal tally, points, best times, having athletes matriculate to the Carifta level, and that is our bigger goal.
“I know pundits and fans look for the first place. But I focus on the work they put in, and they are more than capable,” she said.
She added that she wants to be on the deck while her athletes are competing as she believes it can make a difference to their final outcome.
“I have done a lot of travelling in the summer and seen a lot of competitions and it makes a difference when the swimmers see their coaches on the deck. So that is something I am trying to do.
“It’s our first time hosting it (Goodwill Swimming Championships) but anything is possible, we just need to put it out,” Millwood said.
Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) president Martin Lyn said he felt proud to declare the championships open.
“I invited all the participating countries to sunny Jamaica. We want everybody to feel the warmth for the next three days. I know you all expect to see some medals but I want you all to have fun and enjoy the warmth of Jamaica,” he told the overseas participants.
After 10 events last night, Jamaica trailed the Bahamas in the overall standings.
Following the 100 metres freestyle finals, Bahamas led the male section with 50 points, two more than Jamaica, with Trinidad and Tobago third on 31.
Their female team also led that category with 58 points, with Jamaica second on 55 and Barbados third on 35.
The Bahamians have a total of 108 points, while Jamaica have 103, Barbados are third on 64 and Trinidad fourth with 59.
Julian Willoughby was Jamaica’s only winner in the 100m freestyle, taking the 13-14 boys event in 57.20 seconds.
The championships resumes today at 9 a.m.