Persaud rewrites swimming history

Guyanese Olympian, Aleka Persaud, continued to write her name in the history books after she became the first female to swim below 27 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.

The 15-year-old broke the national record at the ongoing FINA World Championships in the United Arab Emirates, but despite her feat Guyana was not able to get a podium finish.

Persaud swam 26.86 seconds to win her heat, bettering the timing set by Brittany Van Lange.

Earlier, Persaud had also set a new national record in the 100-metre freestyle which was also held by Van Lange. The teen swam 59.70 seconds to become the first female to go below the minute mark in the event.

She also holds the long course record which was achieved at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Coach Sean Baksh told Stabroek Sport that he was pleased with the performance and Persaud will be taking a break before returning to the pool in January, 2022.

Meanwhile, Patrice Mahaica stopped the clock at 32.91 seconds in the 50-metre backstroke to set a new national record in the event which was held by Onika

George since 2013. Mahaica also secured a new record in the 100-metre backstroke with a time of 01.12.24s, bettering the timings of previous record holder, Soroya Simmons, who had held the record for the past ten years.

Also, Olympian Andre Fowler set a new personal best timing in the 50-metre Freestyle after stopping the clock in 24.58s. He also swam 25.95s in the 50-metre Butterfly.

Raekwon Noel was also able to set new personal bests in the 50m Freestyle (27.00s), 100m Freestyle (57.64s), 200m Freestyle (2:06.28s), 50m Butterfly (27.94s) and 100m Butterfly (1:00.25s).