As several members of SwimMAC Elite spent the past week in the Bahamas for a training camp, complete with the CARIFTA time trials meet, teammates were able to physically be present as one of their own earned a prestigious award from the Bahamas Swimming Federation.
The Bahamas’ most decorated swimmer, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, was awarded the Senior Swimmer of the Year honor for her stellar performances at the Central American and Caribbean Games (four golds, two records), the Commonwealth Games (silver medal), as well as for her extraordinary feat of becoming the country’s first finalist at the World Short Course Championships.
In her own words, Vanderpool-Wallace told Tribune 242 that “It’s awesome to be home for this……For me, it’s more about motivating the youth because that’s what is important….if they continue to work hard, they can get this too.” On her fellow SwimMAC Eliters being present for the awards presentation, she said, “It was just awesome to have my teammates here. We have been having a great time and I’m so glad to show off the country to them and allow them to see it through their eyes is really a great experience for me.”
The feeling is mutual, as several of Vanderpool-Wallace’s teammates commented on how much of an asset she is to those training around her. Ryan Lochte explained that “Arianna knows what she is doing and she is having a blast doing it……She’s just amazing.” Cullen Jones similarly expressed that, “it’s good to come here to see how the people appreciate her. It’s really kind of enlightening and kind of cool and I’m just proud of her. She’s done a lot.”
Youth Olympic Games silver medalist Joanna Evans was also honored at the ceremony, as she received the “Junior Swimmer of the Year” acknowledgement. Evans set two national records at the Commonwealth Games, as well as earned an astonishing nine gold and one silver at the CARIFTA Games.
Good for her