3rd Annual Barbados Open Invitational Water Polo Tournament begins

3rd Annual Barbados Open Invitational Water Polo Tournament begins

Competition water polo splashes off at the Aquatic Centre on Friday 12th August at 8:15 a.m. when the 3rd Annual Barbados Open Invitational Water Polo Tournament begins. The Barbados Sharks will start the excitement as they clash with Army West Point. This should be an interesting battle between the warm-water sharks and the military from the north.

Three games will be played in the morning session. The Asphalt Green from New York will challenge the Utah Water Polo Club and the Dynamo/Titanes , a combined team from New York and Columbia, will clash with Army West Point. Games will continue in the afternoon starting at 5:30 p.m. The Official Opening Ceremony will take place at 6:30p.m. at the Aquatic Centre.

Seven games will be played on Saturday with the morning session starting at 9:30 a.m. and the evening session at 5:30 p.m. Medal games will be played on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. The Grand finale of the tournament will be an All Star beach game at the Barbados Cruising Club. This beach game is considered the highlight for the visiting teams since they do not normally play water polo in the sea. It is a novel idea and one that caps the end of each tournament. For the locals this area, north of The Radisson’s jetty is the birthplace of water polo in Barbados.

Asphalt Green played in the tournament last year and immediately confirmed their intent to return. This is the first visit for the Utah Water Polo Club, the Army West Point and the Dynamo/Titanes. This year two FINA accredited referees will run the tournament, Mr Valeriy Vasilchikov and Mr. Has Ortega. The tournament is expected to be very competitive and entertaining. A donation of at least $5 per session or $20 for the weekend would be appreciated. Awards will take place immediately after the beach game.

Meet Barbados’ 2016 Olympic Swimmers – Alex Sobers

Meet Barbados’ 2016 Olympic Swimmers – Alex Sobers

ALEX SOBERS

Alex started competitive swimming in 2007 at the annual Aquatic Center International at the age of eight. He was still a novice swimmer, as a couple weeks before he was still enrolled in the “learn to swim” program; however Alex adapted very quickly and made his presence felt from then on. In 2008 he made the 9-10 boys Goodwill Team to represent Barbados, which was held in Guyana. He found the competition a bit challenging as he was up against more seasoned swimmers, but this all fueled him to train harder as he was determined to win an individual race in upcoming competitions. He won his first medal at the BASA SC Nationals in December 2008, and this set a thirst for more and to be better and improve his times. Alex first major trophy came at the 18th Annual Aquatic Center International in 2009 where he was awarded 9-10 age group Champion. He also won that award again in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

In 2011 he qualified to be part of the Carfita Swim Team held in Barbados, winning gold in the 200 butterfly, and hearing the National Anthem playing in front of your home crowd for the first time was a special moment. Along the way there were many other age group titles, and medals. 2014 was Alex’s first taste of international competition at the Short Course World Championships held in Qatar. This was an eye opener, as the best swimmers in the world were there and he was able to meet his idol, Ryan Lochte. In 2015 once he realized he had a realistic chance of qualifying for the Rio Olympics his training scheduled increased to a high and demanding level, at times with him wanting to give up. However with motivation from his coaches and parents he continued. At one point he thought that swimming under the four minute barrier was beyond him. When it finally came at the CISC championships in Bahamas he was relieved to say the least.

Alex will compete in the 400m Freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Meet Barbados’ 2016 Olympic Swimmers – Lani Cabrera

Meet Barbados’ 2016 Olympic Swimmers – Lani Cabrera

LANI CABRERA

Lani got started in swimming in 1996 after she was encouraged by her parents. Lani’s first year on a national team was when she attending CARIFTA in 2006 on home soil in Barbados, where she was a distance finalist. In 2011 she attended Pan American Games in Mexico where she also completed in the distance freestyle events. Her international swimming career also includes participation at the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 World Championships and 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2016 at CISC in Bahamas Lani won the silver medal in the 400m Free and the bronze medal in the 800m Free.

“Growing up pursuing a sport as well doing school is very challenging, and plenty times I thought about giving up because of how difficult it got. I never took a break from swimming but I went through a phase where my times were off for a year or so, but I just stuck with it. My parents and siblings, coaches, teammates and food motivate me most! Swimming and traveling the world and getting to meet new people makes me love the sport even more. Constantly striving to be better than I was yesterday makes me feel great about myself. Continuing swimming gave me the chance to pursue my swimming career and academics overseas, and gave me the chance to meet all kinds of people,and everyday I came face to face with new opportunities. Getting this far has been extremely difficult and so many times I got upset about having to miss out on a family member’s birthday or a friend’s party, but reaching my lifelong dream of the Olympics made all the sweat, tears and difficult practices worth it! I never once gave up on my dream and I never once doubted myself, and all the sacrifices paid off.”

Lani will compete in the 400m Freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games.