Coach Lee sees bright future for Lyn

PARIS, France:

National swim coach Wendy Lee believes that Sabrina Lyn will blaze a trail similar to that of five-time Olympian Alia Atkinson as she makes her Olympic Games debut tomorrow in the 50 metres freestyle at the Paris La Defence Arena.

Lyn, 20, qualified for her first Olympic Games based on the universality rule and will seek to be among the new faces of Jamaican swimming in the first Games without Atkinson who has been the standard-bearer for over 20 years.

“I think she is going to be the next Alia, for sure. She is young, she is enthusiastic. She has committed her life to swimming. She is happy in the pool. She just had one year of very serious college training and gym work. I think hands down for sure within the next two, three, four years leading up to the following Olympics. Sabrina is going to shine,” Lee told The Gleaner.

Lyn currently is the second fastest Jamaican of all time in the event, having clocked 25.82 seconds at the Carifta Games earlier this year during her rookie season at Louisiana State University. Only Atkinson (25.47) has swam faster. While Lyn is eager to emulate Atkinson’s exploits, she is also determined to forge her own path.

“There is a lot of pressure but for now I am not trying to get to her level as this is my first Olympics. Hopefully, as I progress more in swimming I can get to her level,” Lyn said.

Lee has targeted national records for both Lyn and her national teammate Josh Kirlew in the men’s 100m butterfly. Kirlew is also making his Olympic debut.