By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CALLING this his final term to serve as president, Algernon Cargill and his entire executive team got a unanimous vote of confidence as they were elected unopposed during the Bahamas Aquatics’ annual general meeting and election of officers.

Cargill, who has been elected as president from 2003, was returned to office at the Balmoral Club on Saturday during the elections conducted by the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

Joining him to serve from 20025-2028 are the following:

Grand Bahamian Lynne Fraino as first vice-president; Christine Wallace-Whitfield as second vice president with responsibility for public relations; Gena Culmer-Taylor as third vice-president; Georgette Albury as secretary, assisted by Andrea Longley and Erald Thompson as treasurer, assisted by Kendric Albury.

Courtney Barr, Carrie Saidi, and current swimmer Mark-Anthony Thompson, the youngest member of the team, were elected as members-at-large to complete the board.

“We have a great executive board. Most of the officers are returning to their respective positions and we have a young 22-year-old swimmer in Mark-Anthony Thompson, so that would be great to have him on board. We have representation from four of the clubs in the federation, which is great.” 

In a thorough report, Cargill highlighted the achievements of Bahamas Aquatics over the past four years, including sponsorships, international appointments, event hosting and participation, membership, individual athlete and national team achievements.

“The results we had pretty much confirmed the confidence the members had in us,” Cargill said, “So I’m happy to lead for another term.

“During this term, we definitely want to see someone (swimmer) make the finals at the Olympic Games. We haven’t had anyone since Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace did it in 2012 in London.”

Going into this Olympic cycle that will conclude at the games in Los Angeles, California in 2028, Cargill said they have quite a number of swimmers, especially males, who have the potential to make the next breakthrough.

He noted that the federation will get these swimmers prepared for the FINA World Championships, which serves as the major qualifier for the Olympics. 

Hopefully, he said the Bahamas can also field a male team to compete in one of the relay events.

“If we do, it would be the first Caribbean nation to do so,” Cargill said.

The Bahamas has already established itself as a powerhouse in the region, having won its sixth straight title at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

“It’s going to be a bit of a challenge for us to repeat as champions when we go to Trinidad & Tobago over the Easter holiday because we will be in a hostile environment where they will have a full team without the cost of travel,” Cargill said.

“But it’s even going to be tough for us because we will be on a bus ride for about four hours a day to and from our hotel to complete the swim and back and we will have to do that twice a day.”

Cargill said he’s assured that the coaches will prepare the swimmers for the task ahead of them at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships from April 18-22 in Trinidad & Tobago. The twin nation has been the runner-up to the Bahamas over the past few years. 

There’s another task for Bahamas Aquatics this year and according to Cargill, it’s the possibility of hosting the Goodwill Games at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex in August.

“We have applied to the government to host the games. We have advised the government that we have until January 31 to confirm the deal,” said Cargill of their submission from August.

“If we don’t get a reply by January 31, we will have to move on because it will be unfair to any country to start preparing for it after that date. It’s just too late after that to start planning. Hopefully we will get an answer one way or the other so we know what to do.”

The swim team at the Goodwill Games are following in the footsteps of the CARIFTA Swim team in that they’re going for their third straight title this year.

For those interested, the president’s report and executive board election results are available on the federation website (www.bahamasaquatics.com) and facebook page.

Bahamas Aquatics will officially start its 2025 season with their first meet over the weekend of January 24-25 with the Bahamas Aquatics Invitational  Saturday, January 25 with their CARIFTA trials in mid-March and their 53rd national swimming championships from June 19-22.

On the international scene, the FINA World Championships long course meet is scheduled to be held July 11 to August 3 in Singapore and the FINA World Junior Championships is scheduled for August 19-24 at a site yet to be determined.