Swimmers had golden moments with champion Alia Atkinson

For the past few years leading up to his retirement, the sensational sprinter Usain Bolt remains Jamaica’s pride and joy. However, another young lady is in the spotlight, in a sport Jamaica or for that matter the Caribbean has not excelled in. Swimming! World Champion 100m breaststroke record holder, multi Olympian and swimming Icon, Alia Atkinson, concluded the Alia Atkinson Swim Clinic in St Lucia on Sunday April 29. She was accompanied by her manager and mother Sharon Atkinson.

Atkinson participated in both the 2004, 2008 Olympics and won the 100-metre breaststroke at the 2014 Short Course World Championships in Doha, equaling the record set by R?ta Meilutyt? in 2013. She then became the first black woman to win a world swimming title, and Jamaica’s first gold swimming medal in a World Championship.

Has her recent success propelled swimming to new heights in comparison to other sports played there? Atkinson responded to that question at a recent press conference at Bay Gardens Beach Resort. “Not particularly,” she said. “Jamaica is known for track and field, football and cricket. Swimming is still underrated and is still one of those hidden sports that a lot of us there do not really do. Media wise I am moving up and becoming a household name, but the sport is still under the radar.”

However she went on to say: “A couple of years back maybe in 2014 after tying the world record, I saw a peak where parents got their children into the water and there was talk about water awareness which is where it starts. Swimming is not just a sport it is a life skill and something you need to do in order to actually save yourself. So just getting the children in the water alone is where we need to start and we saw that push.”

At the moment St Lucia has only one 25 metre swimming pool located at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre. Atkinson has no problem with youngsters getting started there, but pointed out there are handicapped when competing at a higher level and have to adjust to a 50 metre swimming pool.

She feels there are disadvantages when a child goes from a 25 metre swimming pool to a 50 metre pool but pointed out that desire and determination is equally important as the facility itself. “An athlete is not born because of their circumstances,” she said. It is not just because I had everything laid out for me of I am supposed to succeed.
There are many people who did not have everything laid out for them and they still succeeded regardless.”  

The swim clinic comprised of 18 competitive swimmers and 19 Learn-to-swim kids from Baron’s Drive in Soufriere, who were enamored by the charm and class of Atkinson during her sessions. These qualities were further enhanced by her world-class range of flexibility and delivery of stroke technique. Atkinson’s ability to switch from theory to practical, gave participants a full hands on perspective on how to improve their swimming technique. Her underwater and wall work had the swimmers tingling with excitement, wanting to either try it or see if they could take up the mantle and accept her challenge.

Swimmers were equally exposed to various aspects of mental preparation going into their races. Affirmations and goal setting was also a vital part of Commander Atkinson’s clinic. She also shared some of her experiences participating in various age group swimming competitions, her challenges and how she overcame them to become the champion she is today.

Swimmers went through precompetitive dryland stretching routines with special emphasis on working and strengthening the smaller muscles and improving the range of movement. They were mesmerized at the varied stretching routines. The atmosphere created by the world champion, allowed all swimmers to participate without fear and longing for more correction, more advice and more time.

The Jamaican swimmer had the pleasure of meeting His Excellency, Governor General, Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac, who hosted a fundraiser on behalf of the St Lucia Aquatics Federation. Atkinson’s Swim Clinic was an awesome event for St Lucian swimming. The excitement and burning desire for our swimmers to want to excel was evident. Her presence lit that spark and unleashed greatness.

A special thank you to parents and swimmers who took this leap of faith with us. In addition, the Federation would like to thank the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Invest St Lucia and the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, for making this moment a raving success.