History-making para swimmer Nye Cruickshank is looking forward to future challenges following her debut in the World Series in Lewisville, Texas during the past week. She returned to Grenada Wednesday April 21.
The 19-year-old swimmer became the first Grenadian to compete in an international swimming championship.
Cruickshank, whose left leg was amputated when she was seven-year-old as a result of cancer, was classified as an S10 competitor in 100m Breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 200m Individual Medley. Although she did not win a medal in any of the races, she qualified for the final of the breaststroke.
Her first race was the 100m Breaststroke, where she finished second in her preliminary made finals and achieved a time of 2:11.21. She also did the 50m Freestyle, which is not an eligible event at the Paralympics, as a result, there were no finals at the competition for the 50m freestyle. Finally, she swam the 200m IM where she made a 4:02.21 where she placed 12th.
On completion of the competition, Nye took full advantage to train in a 50m facility on Monday April 19 -20.
Coach Nataly Sihera Regis, who accompanied her to Texas, said Nye gave a good account of herself and was proud of her achievements. Among coach Nataly’s recommendations are continued speed work and strength endurance training both in water and on land.
According to the coach, based on the events swam the 100m Breaststroke is her closest event to qualify for the Paralympic games 2020 and she will continue to work to improve her time. Cruickshank could get a second chance at qualifying by participating in the Desert Challenge in Arizona from May 24 to 30.
Grenada is afforded one wild Card for participation in the Para Olympic Games, therefore it is yet to be determined if Nye will still have an opportunity to make her debut at the Para Olympics in August 2021.
Host nation the United States completed clean sweeps in the women’s 200 metres individual medley and women’s 100m backstroke.
In the women’s 200m individual medley mixed-classification race, 13-time Paralympic champion Jessica Long and London 2012 Paralympic champion Mallory Weggemann tied for gold with both swimmers attaining 1,004 points.
Long, an SM8 athlete, finished in a time of 2min 40.02sec; SM7 athlete Weggemann clocked 2:53.56.
Another home sweep came in the women’s 100m backstroke, with Elizabeth Marks claiming gold in 1:22.89 for 1,030 points.
The event attracted around 116 swimmers representing 20 nations. Several of the world’s leading para-swimmers from the United States, Australia, Mexico competed in the three-day event staged at the LISD Westside Aquatic ( April 15-17.)
