Source: Loop
Despite jetlag and tiredness from a 30-hour trip from St Kitts and Nevis, Olympian Troy Nisbett is wasting no time. The young swimmer is already in the pool in Paris, putting in laps to prepare for the competition, which begins in just under two weeks.
Nisbett, the first swimmer from St Kitts and Nevis to compete in an Olympic Games, is set to participate in the men’s 50-meter freestyle scheduled for August 1st.
He is one of three debutants representing the twin-island federation in Paris.
His Coach James Weekes spoke with Loop News today following the 15-year-old’s first training session in the Olympic pool, alongside many of the more seasoned athletes, who will be in action from as early as July 27.
Weekes said today’s session focused on getting Nisbett acclimatised to the pool and Olympic environment.
Weekes noted positively that Nisbett remains unfazed by pressure or nerves, staying focused on his Olympic goals, which are to make his country proud and improve his speed in Paris.
“The plan is for him to better his personal best [of 29.50 seconds]. That for me is a win. Whatever happens after that, it’s all a plus,” he said.
The swimming pool in Paris presents a stark contrast to the clear and pristine open ocean waters of Nisbett’s home island of Nevis, where he is accustomed to swimming and training for competitive events.
Weekes explains this puts Nisbett at a slight disadvantage to his competitors.
“In the fresh water you tend to sink more, whereas in the salt water, you’re more buoyant. So, when you swim in the pool, you feel like you’re struggling,” he said.
“The next is when you’re swimming in the ocean, you have all these waves you have to deal with. So therefore, folks who swim in the ocean or train in the ocean tend to lift their head more because they want to see where they’re going. In the pool, you keep your head low because all the instructions are written on the bottom of the pool.”
“Then there’s the current. We don’t have current swimming pools. So it’s not easy, but we’re making do with what we have.”
Some individuals on social media have criticised local sporting bodies for what they perceive as a failure to support St Kitts and Nevis’ athletes, particularly since all three representatives were granted universality places. Universality places are allocated to National Olympic Committees without qualified athletes in specific sporting disciplines.
Weekes, a former triathlon representative for St Kitts and Nevis, hit back at the detractors saying Nisbett has every right to be in Paris.
“If you cannot drive a car, you will not be given any kind of permit or license to drive on the road. So, the fact that they saw that he’s on the right path and there are possibilities, we put him up based on his experience and his skill level. They have made it possible for him to enter [the Olympic Games] so that he can even become better and faster,” Weekes said.
The coach informed Loop News that he has already spoken to the young athlete, advising him that he now serves as an inspiration for future swimmers in St Kitts and Nevis who aspire to follow in his pioneering footsteps.
The trip to Paris is not just a learning experience for Nisbett as Weekes said he is taking away many lessons from the experience which he hopes to impart to youth under his care.