BVI and Honduras Set to have swimmers as flag bearers

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Honduras will each have one swimmer as a flag bearer at this year’s opening ceremony for the Olympic Games. Elinah Phillip will co-lead the delegation from the BVI, and Julio Horrego will be a bearer for Honduras. 

Phillip will compete in her second straight Olympic Games. She is a part of the three-athlete team announced here for BVI. Phillip finished 48th in prelims of the 50 freestyle at the 2016 Rio Games when she was 16. At the 2016 Games, she was one of four athletes to represent BVI. 

She just missed the “B” cut back in June with a time of 25.82 in the 50 freestyle, but will represent BVI as a universality athlete. Phillip also just recently set a new BVI national record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 58.63 at the South Florida Aquatic Club Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier meet which was held May 28-30. 

Phillip will enter her junior year at Florida International University located in Miami, Florida this fall. At this year’s conference meet, she swam a time of 23.01 to earn a silver medal in the 50 freestyle. 

As a flag bearer, Phillip will be joined by track and field athlete Kyron McMaster. McMaster will be competing in the men’s 400 meter hurdles. 

Horrego will compete in his first Olympic Games. In 2019, he represented Honduras at the Pan American Games in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. He placed 12th in both events. 

A few weeks ago at the Bahamas Aquatics National Championships, Horrego set new Honduras national records in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke. He swam a time of 27.81 in the 50 and 1:01.18 in the 100. He also holds the Honduras national records in the 200 breaststroke as well as 200 and 400 IMs. 

Horrego swam his freshman and sophomore years at Florida State University but didn’t continue in the US collegiate system. 

Phillip and Horrego are the 12th and 13th swimmers expected to carry their nation’s flag in Tokyo. See the complete list below.