Zuri Ferguson on debut Olympic swim: I can only go up from here

Seventeen-year-old high school student Zuri Ferguson, the youngest member of Trinidad and Tobago's 17-member content at the 2024 Paris Olympics, started her country's participation at the games when she swam to a third-place finish in heat two of the women's 100-metre backstroke at the Paris La Defense Arena on July 29.

Swimming out of lane six in her debut Olympics, Ferguson hit the wall in a time of one minute, 2.75 seconds (1:02.75) to finish behind the pair of Israel's Aviv Barzelay (1:02.30) and Kazakhstan's Xeniya Ignatova (1:02.51).

With the top 16 swimmers from a field of 36 advancing to the semifinals, Ferguson didn't progress to the next round as her time gave her a 27th-placed finish overall. Barzelay and Ignatova finished 25th and 26th respectively.

Still, the Attleboro High School student was pleased with her efforts and she was grateful for the experience to compete at her first Olympics.

"I feel great. Even though it wasn't my best swim, I'm happy to be here and I'm happy for the opportunity. I'm glad I got to experience all of this," Ferguson told SportsMax after her swim.

With many accolades already to her name for TT at the junior level, Ferguson believes the sky's the limit in her swimming career.

"Just being able to race against the best in the world, I can only go up from here. There's so much to grow (and learn) from."

Ferguson said the atmosphere in Paris was second to none, and it allowed her to swim a relaxed race.

"I wasn't as (nervous) as I was expecting so that's good," she said. "I could feel the energy throughout the stands and I tried to funnel that through as much of my race as I could."

Ferguson received encouraging remarks from many fans on social media, with the TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) also posting a video of Ferguson's dad on Instagram.

"Hey Zuri, you did fantastic. That was a great swim," Ferguson's father said. "We're so proud of you. Congratulations. We'll be back in the next four years."

Ferguson also received support from fellow first-time Olympian Akilah Lewis, who is a member of the women's 4x100m relay team.

"We love you Zuri Ferguson," Lewis said, on Instagram. "So much more to come. You're a great athlete and (an) even better human."

Ferguson took to her Instagram stories to respond to the outpouring of support.

"My heart is full," she said.

"I don't know what I'd do without all their support."

Ferguson's swim was also commended by former Sport minister Anil Roberts, who's a member of SportsMax's panel for their Olympic coverage. Roberts, former coach of Athens 2004 bronze medallist George Bovell III, said Ferguson shows a lot of promise and he expects her to be a much-improved swimmer for the 2028 Olympics.

"Zuri's start was fantastic. She has things to improve on. These two girls could be racing to be the first Caribbean swimmers under one minute in the 100m backstroke," Roberts said of the potential of Ferguson and Bermuda's Emma Harvey, who placed 23rd overall in the women's 100m backstroke in 1:01.78.

"These two girls are on their way. The Caribbean can be proud of them. They did exceptionally well. I'm happy for both of them and I look forward to them getting there in four years in under one minute and possibly getting in the top 16 (at the Olympics)."