Shaune Fraser enters Cayman’s sporting hall of fame
(CNS): Following his graduation next summer star swimmer Shaune Fraser will become the Cayman Islands latest elite athlete when he signs a contract with government in June 2010. Shaune and his younger brother Brett are currently competing for the University of Florida (where they both have swimming scholarships) on the amateur National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) circuit. Once he graduates Shaune will be able to take on sponsorships and under the contract the CI government will offer financial support enabling him to focus on training and competing.
Swimming since he was six years old, Shaune competed in the Olympics in 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing). He currently holds the NCAA record for the 200m fly, and the Florida state records for the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 200m fly – all set this year. Shaune’s main events are the 200 individual medley (IM), 200 freestyle, and 200 fly, and he has his sights firmly set on the 2012 London Olympics.
Big events for next year include, the NCAA Championships in March, the Central American and Caribbean Games in July, October’s Commonwealth Games in India, and the World Swimming Championships in December 2010. After graduating next summer, he will also start competing on the swimming Grand Prix circuit.
“Shaune and Brett both have impressive records of performance. Not only have they proven themselves in the swimming pool, but they also are excellent role models for our young athletes. I am impressed with their dedication to their sport and their education. It takes a very special and talented athlete to juggle the demands of international competition and full-time study,” Minister of Sport Mark Scotland said.
“My ministry is proud to offer another young Caymanian athlete the opportunity to further his sport career. In turn, Cayman will benefit from being represented on the world stage by an athlete of great calibre.”
The Cayman Islands’ Elite Athlete Status programme allows athletes to enter into a contract with the Cayman Islands Government whereby they receive financial support to assist them in their training and development. Under the agreement, athletes are required to maintain a certain level of competition and participate, whenever possible, in promoting sports in the Cayman Islands. They are also expected to act as athletic ambassadors when and wherever they are competing.
Current Cayman Elite Athletes are RonaldForbes, Cydonie Mothersill, Charles Whittakker, and Michael Letterlough.
For more information on Shaune’s performance this year go to http://www.gatorzone.com/swimmingdiving/media/?sport=swimm http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=16876
Category: Sports
Congrats Shaune! Cayman is proud of you!
50m pool development…..
To the posters noting the success of the Fraser brothers (plus our other Olympic swimmers, Andrew Mackay and Heather Roffey) despite out tiny facility, I would provide a few notes :
– Yes, CIASA (Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association) has been working with the Ministry of Sports to develop a 50 meter pool for some years.
– Plans are complete and planning permission in place for that facility.
– Successive governments from 2003 through 2007 committed 50% funding (with the balance to be raised from corporate supporters).
– The total cost of the complete complex, including 50m pool, grandstand, changing room and facilities, plus complete refurbishment of the existing 25m pool on the same site, is in the region of CI$6m-$7m
– unfortunately the project has been on hold since the government funding crisis hit our islands.
Also of import to note :
– the new national schools curriculum mandates that all our children be "waterproofed", ie taught to swim.. and before the end of Primary school.
– this cannot now happen without building this facility, as well as the 25m pools that were to be part of the Frank Sound and WB high schools.
In closing this note, Cayman is very fortunate to have a (government funded) learn to swim programme with a devoted coaching staff led by Dominic Ross. That programme is always maxed out, so whilst hundreds of our children are taught to swim, that number could and should be in the thousands.. if we built it they will (learn to) swim !
This is a personal passion for me and many others in Cayman.. this can be a truly transformational change for the next generation of our children, but we need to make it happen.. this is for all Cayman… we need to get away from any misconceptions about such developments being for elite athletes.. it is for everyone..though of course if ALL Cayman’s children get to swim, how many more swimming Olympians will we see to follow the footsteps of those who have led and continue to lead the way ?
Thanks for the thorough update. Let’s just hope that it can come to fruition, despite all the fiscal demands that exist.
I would like to extend my congratulations to the Fraser brothers for making Cayman proud but I would also like to make note of the extremely hard work and time that their father, Jim, has put behind their success. Keep it up all!
I am so proud of my cousins =) Keep it up boys you are making your family and country proud!
Love you guys
Well done Shaune and Brett!.
What makes Cayman’s swimming success remarkable is that this has been achieved without an Olympic size (50 Meter) pool anywhere on the island. Imagine the success if our Government could find a way to make a 50M pool a reality.
I understand from an announcement at on of the sea swims this year that CIASA already have plans for the development of a 50 meter pool. Lets hope the Government can get behind that project and allow the excellant swimming coaches to provide more training and learn to swim sessions. Maybe it will encourage more of the kids to get involved.
Who Jah Bless No Man Curse!
Would like to add my congrats to them both.Very well done and true ambassadors for the Cayman Islands.Keep up the good work guys and kudos to your hard working folks keeping you guys focused.
This is great that Shaun has been elected to Cayman’s Sporting Hall of Fame. Kudo’s to CNS for being the first to announce that Cayman even had a Sporting Hall of Fame. Way to go CNS!
Uhm, actually that is a GIS release word for word! Plus the story was on the Net News’ front page before CNS posted it. CNS I am a supporter but give credit where credit is due!
CNS Note: I rather think the writer was being a little tongue in cheek about the CNS use of "Sporting hall of fame" not the story itself…….which as you so rightly pointed out is a GIS release (although not word for word) which we have posted in order to allow you all to comment on. Enjoy. I’ve got to get back to the murder and mayhem.
Excellent! I’m happy to see him being supported. He’s put in the work, shown discipline and consistent improvement. Now, I agree that THIS young man should be supported.
Awaiting the first Caymanian Olympic gold medal in swimming. If not from him then there are others.
I’d like to see the young footballers show more initiative, drive and discipline so they too can make this island a sports destination and thereby making it affordable to sponsor them.
Good job Mr. Fraser, keep it up.
fantastic! well done to both Frasers who represent Cayman in such a positive way. Both are outstanding, decent, well-mannered young men – we need more of this kind.
Go Cayman