In pursuit of Olympic gold
Friday, April 9, 2004
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (GIS): George Bovell
III, became the first swimmer from Trinidad and Tobago to set a world record
when, in his quest for Olympic Gold, Bovell established a new world record
last month, returning a time of 1:53.93 in the short course 200-metres
individual medley. He also won multiple gold
medals at the National Collegiate Amateur Association (NCAA) 2004
Championships.
In February this year, Bovell won Gold and
Silver at the World Cup Swim Championships in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
At 20, Bovell holds over fifty national
records and has become Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest swimmer, according to
his Piranha Aquatics swim club Director, Shastri Roberts.
In 2001, Bovell placed 4th at the world
championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Later that year, he won multiple gold at the
Carifta, Caribbean Invitational Swim Championships (CISC) and the Central
American and Caribbean Age Groups Championships (CCCAN).
Bovell sustained and overcame injury in
2002, but was unable to compete at the Commonwealth Games and Central American
and Caribbean Games.
In 2003, at the US Open Record 200-yards
individual medley, he swam the fastest time ever in the history of the event
(1:42.66) and became the 2003 NCAA Champion, representing Auburn University.
Bovell placed 5th at the World Championship
in Barcelona Spain and added Trinidad and Tobago to an elite 5-member club of
countries with athletes going under two minutes for the 200 metres individual
medley. He set a Commonwealth record of 1:59.86, which was later broken by Ian
Thorpe of Australia with Bovell taking Silver in the Final swim.
Bovell continued his strokes and medalled
two Gold and two Silver at the Pan Am Games, reclaiming the Commonwealth
record in a 1:59.49 time, while setting the Pan Am Games record.
In late 2003, the Trinidad and Tobago
Olympic Committee named Bovell Male Athlete of the Year 2003.
With Athens 2004, a mere five months away,
George Bovell III continues in his quest for Olympic Gold.
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