VI Swimmers Claim Three Medals in SVG
Virgin Islands swimmers picked up two silver and one bronze at the OECS Championships on November 8, 2025, at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre in Ratho Mill, St Vincent. Debutant Evelyn Freeman and youngster Naya Bissoondutt won silver in their age groups, while Arun Bissoondutt secured bronze.
Three young Virgin Islands swimmers returned to the podium Saturday at the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) Swimming Championships in St Vincent and the Grenadines. At the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre in Ratho Mill on November 8, 2025, Evelyn Freeman, making her championships debut, captured silver in the Girls 9-10 50m Breaststroke.
Freeman touched in 43.68 seconds, shaving 0.70 seconds off her previous personal best to claim second place. Also earning silver was Naya Bissoondutt in the Girls 8 & Under 25m Backstroke. Bissoondutt finished in 21.33 seconds, improving her best time by 0.80 seconds to take the runner-up spot.
Arun Bissoondutt rounded out the medal haul for the Virgin Islands with a bronze in the Boys 9-10 50m Backstroke. He posted a time of 39.39 seconds, trimming 0.21 seconds from his prior mark to secure third place. The performances came against strong regional competition as the OECS Championships gather young swimmers from across the Eastern Caribbean.
The meet is an important development event for budding talent, offering race experience on a larger stage and the chance to benchmark progress against neighbouring islands. For BVI residents, these results highlight the steady progress of our pool of young swimmers and the value of investment in grassroots programmes and coaching.
Personal-best improvements across all three medalists are encouraging signs that training and competition exposure are producing measurable gains. The championships continue Sunday, November 9, 2025, with more heats and finals scheduled. Coaches, family members and supporters of the Virgin Islands contingent will be watching closely for further placings and time drops as the meet concludes.
The Virgin Islands’ medals in St Vincent underscore the region’s growing depth in youth swimming, and the achievements of Freeman, Naya and Arun Bissoondutt will likely inspire other young athletes back home. Local swimming clubs and parents may see these podium finishes as momentum to keep developing talent through regular competition and targeted training.
According to Virgin Islands News Online, the three swimmers combined personal improvement with podium finishes to give the Virgin Islands cause for celebration as the OECS Championships near their conclusion.
Primary source: VINO