SPORTS MEDALS RUSH IN SECTION E
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026
FINAL STANDINGS - PAGE 11
Team Bahamas returns from 30th Goodwill Swimming Team Bahamas returns from Goodwill Swimming Championships with 55 gold, 45 silver and 29 bronze 1234564*+*'),$617*8*96:/;*'6/+.64*+*'),$6%<6=%#)76/+.6>9%$)'64/$*%6?%&8,@6@$,,)6A,/-6?/7/-/'B6'&*--,$'6%+6)7,*$6/$$*;/86C,'),$./C0666666666666666666666666666666666666666617%)%D6&/8/9#:;9.<652 !"#$%&'()'&# !*++%,(./0123#-45.67#+345.63. !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,) TEAM Bahamas’ fouryear reign at the Goodwill Swimming Championships was celebrated last night as the country’s junior swimmers were honoured at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex following another dominant performance at the regional championships. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis was in attendance for the ceremony and addressed the young swimmers,
congratulating them on their success while encouraging them to maintain the standard of excellence that has made The Bahamas the team to beat at Goodwill. Davis also acknowledged the parents and coaches for the commitment and sacrifices that go into developing the young swimmers and preparing them to represent the country. Minister of Youth and Sports Mario Bowleg was also in attendance. The Bahamas won five of the 10 age group divisions at the 30th Goodwill Swimming Championships in Trinidad and Tobago,
securing its fourth consecutive overall championship. Head coach Dwayne Davis says the latest title was the product of a complete team effort rather than the work of a few individual swimmers. “We had a full domination from day one,” Davis said. “It was a full team effort.” The head coach said the team arrived in Trinidad with a clear objective and remained focused throughout the competition despite the atmosphere surrounding the championships. “We went down to Trinidad and it was very, very
loud. It was very, very competitive,” Davis said. “The team stayed focused.” Davis said the swimmers understood what was at stake and continued to build momentum as the competition progressed. The Bahamas’ depth was reflected in the number of swimmers who produced high point performances across the age groups. The high point trophy winners were Nia Ferguson in the girls’ 8-and-under division, Mason Sadowski in the boys’ 8-and-under division, Hannah Astwood in the girls’ 11-12 division, Fraser Menzies in the boys’
11-12 division and Helsinki Mitchell in the girls’ 13-14 division. Ferguson was among the biggest individual standouts for Team Bahamas. The eight-year-old won gold in eight of her nine events and established a new Goodwill meet record in the girls’ 8-and-under 100m individual medley. Ferguson stopped the clock at 1:22.58, breaking the previous meet record of 1:24.28 by 1.70 seconds. She also won the 100m freestyle in 1:07.22, 50m freestyle in 30.52 seconds and 50m butterfly in 32.34 seconds.
Ferguson contributed to relay victories in the mixed 8-and-under 200m freestyle relay in 2:07.21, the 200m medley relay in 2:34.89 and the 200m freestyle relay in 2:12.21. She also won the girls’ 8-and-under 50m backstroke in 37.19 seconds, dropping 2.02 seconds from her entry time of 39.21. Teammate Payton Botswick finished second in 37.83 seconds, giving The Bahamas a one-two finish. Ferguson said the championship was particularly meaningful because it was
SEE SWIM, Page 10
Michael Phelps returns poolside with his sons as 8-year-old Beckett eyes swimming !"#!=()#)'++>-# '?#-45.67#,./63. IRVINE, California (AP) — Ten years to the week after ending his career at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics with 23 career gold medals, Michael Phelps turned up at the Pan Pacific Championships with two of his four young sons. And one is interested in swimming. Beckett, who's 8, and brother Maverick, who's 6, sat with their dad and mom Nicole watching two days of the international meet featuring the US, Australia, Canada and Japan. Oldest brother Boomer, age 10, was keeping youngest brother Nico, age 2, entertained at home. Beckett took a keen interest in the racing. The US team is being overseen by Phelps' longtime coach, Bob Bowman, who is an unofficial grandfather to the boys. “Grandpa Bob is giving him some pointers here and there,” Phelps said. “I would say he’s got more of a sprinter-type stroke, so not me, which kind of makes me happy.”
The family is researching coaches in Phoenix, where they live, for Beckett. “If he wants to be a swimmer, I will support it,” Phelps said. “I will never push him into it. I want him to become his own person. I just hope he has fun.” Phelps was careful to explain some of the finer points to Beckett. “I was like, ‘Dude, if you want to train hard and literally grind, this is the sport,’” he said. Phelps began swimming when he was seven in his hometown of Baltimore, where he was initially afraid to put his face in the water. He joined a local club partly to follow his older sisters who swam and also to channel his high energy levels that occasionally bedeviled his single mother, Debbie. He made his Olympic debut at 15 in the 2000 Sydney Games. Now he sees some of himself in his second son's traits. “He has a hard time turning the switch off, so when he gets angry, he gets angry,” Phelps said. “That was the same way I was, so stare at that black line and scream as loud as you possibly can.”