13-y-o swimmer wants to become a world beater

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Having captured a bronze medal at his first international swimming championship for Jamaica, Sean-Douglas Gooden is aiming to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman and sprint king Usain Bolt, and American swimmer Michael Phelps.

The 13-year-old Gooden turned in a brilliant display to capture the bronze medal in the boys' 11-12 100m breaststroke in 1:17.26, at the Central American and Caribbean (CCCAN) Age Group Swimming Championship, which was held in San José, Costa Rica, earlier this month.

Jamaica ended the championship with six medals - one silver and five bronze.

Future Olympian

"I am hoping to become famous like Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps in the future," said Gooden in an interview with The Gleaner. Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals (18 gold).

"I would also love to go to the Olympic Games and win a medal for my country," Gooden said. Gooden, a student of Jamaica College, added that winning the bronze medal at the CCCAN Championship has helped to boost his confidence as well as inspiring him to work much harder in training.

"I feel good because this is my first CCCAN games, and so I feel good about my accomplishment," Gooden said.

"It also makes me feel that all the hard work that I have done in training is paying off," he said. "I hope to continue to work harder so that I can represent Jamaica in many more swimming competitions overseas," he said.

Gooden, who has been swimming competitively for the past three and a half years, noted that he is still working hard to improve histechnique.

"I am also planning to do the individual medley because I am still learning to better my stroke and swim a lot faster. I think I could have won the gold medal, if I had worked harder and focused a lot more on my stroke," he pointed out.

Allan Marsh, vice-president of the Swimming Association of Jamaica, said Gooden is one of the most talented young swimmers in Jamaica.

"I think he has a lot of potential because he has improved significantly on his times in the past 12 months," said Marsh. "His attitude towards training and his work ethic are also very positive."

Marsh added: "He is extremely young in swimming and he is still learning his craft. He also has a good coach and so I think he has the potential to go places."