Blackman has record-breaking final day at Pan Am Swim Champs

TRINIDAD and Tobago swimmer Nikoli Blackman said he never expected to break so many records at the Pan American Age Group Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, which ended on Sunday. Blackman, 16, also earned the Commonwealth Games standard in the 50-metre freestyle.

Blackman broke three meet records including in the boys 15-17 100-metre freestyle, boys 15-17 50-metre butterfly and in the boys 15-17 50m freestyle.

In the 50m freestyle on Sunday, Blackman stopped the clock in 22.71 seconds to erase the previous meet record of 22.82.

Blackman helped TT to a haul of 61 medals in the four-day meet - 24 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze.

Blackman grabbed 11 medals at the meet which comprised seven gold medals, three silver and one bronze. He earned seven individual medals and four relay medals.

TT added 13 medals on the final day including six gold, two silver and five bronze.

TT ended third on the points standings with 818.5 points, Peru were the top team with 1,149 points and Puerto Rico second with 1,073.

Blackman was the best swimmer in the boys 15-17 age group with 60 points and his TT team-mate Zachary Anthony ended with the most points (48) in the boys 13-14 category.

Speaking to Newsday, Blackman said, “To be quite honest coming into this event I was only looking for two records which is the 100 free and 50 free because two years ago when I went to Peru in the 13-14 category I got those two as well so I was coming back to take those two. I did not expect to break the 50 fly record, that came as a shock.”

In the 50m freestyle, Blackman did not only break the meet record but he earned the Commonwealth Games standard.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will start at the end of July in Birmingham, England.

“In the 50m free today I made the Commonwealth time and that will be in England. (It is) very exciting, new territory and I am ready for it.”

He is elated about how TT performed at the meet.

“We are all from different clubs, but you could see the chemistry. (For) some of these people it is their first team, but it was very nice and they all performed very well.” The TT supporters came out in their numbers, especially during the final two days of competition.

They waved flags and one woman started her own rhythm section as she encouraged the TT swimmers by playing a drum.

Blackman said the crowd gave the TT swimmers a boost.

“When you behind the blocks and they call your name…you hearing the whole crowd roar because it’s your home country."