Bermuda’s swimmers made an immediate splash at the XXXIX Carifta Aquatics Championships, securing two podium finishes on a high-octane opening night at the Pierre Samot Community Aquatic Centre.
In the first finals session of the meet in Le Lamentin, Martinique, Teagan Mewett provided the island's breakthrough moment. Competing in the 15-17 Girls 200m Breaststroke, delivered a composed tactical performance. Maintaining a strong position throughout the eight lengths, she touched the wall in 2:45.80 to claim a well-deserved bronze medal, marking Bermuda’s first trip to the podium of the 2026 championships.
The momentum continued in the sprint events, where Rory Shepherd excelled in the 13-14 Boys 50m Backstroke. Having qualified strongly from the morning heats, Shepherd found an extra gear in the final, clocking a blistering 29.19 to secure the silver medal. He was narrowly beaten to the wall by Michael Sobers of Barbados, but his performance ensured Bermuda finished the individual events with a multi-medal haul.
The evening concluded with the traditional fireworks of the relay events. In the 15-17 Boys 4x100m freestyle, the quartet of Connor Hupman, Noah Maranzana, Gabriel Maranzana, and Logan Jones battled hard against a field dominated by the hosts and the Bahamas. The Bermudian team stopped the clock in 3:39.32 to finish in sixth place.
That result was mirrored in the 15-17 Girls 4x100m freestyle relay, where Gabriella Cechini, Katherine Wheddon, Elanna Fulton, and Marleigh Howes produced a spirited display. Navigating a competitive field, the girls' squad also secured a sixth-place finish, recording a time of 4:09.67. With two medals already in the bag and several relay teams showing promise, the Bermuda delegation heads into the second day of competition with significant wind in their sails.
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