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Antigua & Barbuda reclaimed the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Swimming Championships title they last held in 2024, finishing ahead of hosts Saint Lucia at the Rodney Heights Aquatics Centre. According to the St. Lucia Times, Antigua secured 1,407 points to Saint Lucia’s 1,272, with defending champions Grenada placing third with 930 points. The decisive margin came from Antigua’s superior depth across the competition, as they accumulated 51 gold medals, 54 silver, and 3 bronze compared to Saint Lucia’s 44, 24, and 33 respectively.
Despite the team loss, Saint Lucia swimmers delivered exceptional individual performances that underscored the island’s competitive swimming talent. Antoine Destang, a University of Michigan freshman, swept all 11 of his entered events in the boys 15-17 category, earning a maximum 99 points while setting five OECS records, including new marks in all four freestyle races. Sapphire Parks overcame an ankle injury to lead the girls 11-12 age group with 95 points and six new meet records, while Tyler Dantes contributed 91 points in the boys 11-12 division with eight gold medals and six new records—one breaking a mark that had stood since 2012.
Younger swimmers also made their mark, with Miles Andrew sweeping all eight races in the boys 9-10 class for 72 points, and Zoe Fortune adding 42 points in the girls 9-10 division. According to reporting, Saint Lucia fielded four of the five top swimmers at the meet, demonstrating concentrated excellence even as the broader team fell short. The St. Lucia Times noted that the home squad was not at full strength, with Tristan Dorville absent due to logistical issues and two swimmers competing at the Youth Olympics.
The result extends Saint Lucia’s championship drought to 12 years since last winning the regional team title in 2014. However, the back-to-back runner-up finishes represent progress after a fourth-place finish in 2024, suggesting the island remains competitive in regional swimming. Local swimmers, coaches, parents, and administrators can take encouragement from the individual achievements and the trajectory of improvement, even as the wait for the next team championship continues.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Swimming Championships represents the premier regional competition for swimmers across the Eastern Caribbean. Saint Lucia last won the team title in 2014, and the island has not reclaimed the crown despite hosting the event and producing several world-class individual swimmers in recent years.
This story reflects Saint Lucia’s competitive standing in regional athletics and the development of Caribbean swimming talent at the international level, particularly with swimmers like Antoine Destang competing at top American universities. The championship also highlights the broader Caribbean sports infrastructure and youth development pipelines.
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