Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 20, 2021 Sports
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News – National Swimmer Jamila Sanmoogan was virtually packing her bags for her participation in the Tokyo Olympics from July 23 to August 8, 2021 after competing in the Women’s 50 meters’ freestyle in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil; placing 63 overall.
However, the 23-year-old, who initially picked up a FINA universality spot to her second Olympics, has been replaced by 15-year-old Aleka Persaud who was named by FINA as the fastest female Guyanese swimmer in the 50m freestyle event.
“I am a bit disappointed but GASA knows best; my congratulations to the athlete that was selected,” informed Jamila, who along with Hannibal Gaskin represented Guyana in Rio five years ago.
“Unfortunately, I was informed by the news media rather than by our club. GASA has not yet informed the club of their decision,” said Jamila when she was contacted by Kaieteur Sports just after 7AM yesterday morning.
Asked about the work she put in preparation for the Olympics and what will do now? Jamila said,
“Training is part of my regular routine. The extra work had made me stronger. But for now, I’ll take a rest and wait for the pool to be opened for regular athletes to train,” said the Dolphin Speed Swim Club member who was born in Georgetown in 1977.
While the Puerto Rico qualifier was attended by Aleka Persaud and Leon Seaton Jr., who is on a scholarship in Florida, GASA did not send Jamila or Dwayne Fowler to that qualifying event.
When asked if on hindsight she felt not attending the Puerto Rico event hurt her in anyway although she had already named in Guyana’s five-person team to travel to Japan, she noted, “I wasn’t selected to participate in the qualifying session in Porto Rico,” Jamila disclosed.
“Concerning Porto Rico, there was not enough time for us to prepare and put systems in place for the pair going to the Olympics to attend,” Dwayne Scott, President of the GASA had said on a recent the Sean Devers Sports Watch on Kaieteur Radio.
“For young Aleka Persaud, who was in Guyana… her club was able to put things in place for her
It is indeed unfortunate and a set-back for us that our Olympic swimmers could not attend this event.
Ideally, what you want is for local or regional competitions to be available since it is very expensive to be going to all of these Meets working on limited budgets and without corporate contributions or sponsorship,” Scott had said on the Radio programme.
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