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President of the Ghana Swimming Association (GSA), Theophilus Wilson Edzie believes the past year, 2018 was a good one for the young Ghanaian swimmers who had the opportunity to travel to compete in major international competitions like the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, All African Games in Algeria, Youth Olympic Games in Argentina and the World Championship in China.
According to the President who was suspended for some time, but freed after investigations vindicated him, the Ghanaian media look one side to football, or the other side of negative reporting, than the positives such as the waves and strides made by young swimmers like Abeiku Jackson, Arthur Jason and the Forson sisters.
Theo Edzie said Ghana’s swimmers are now the target of the best on the continent as Abeiku Jackson who now has an African record could perform better and faster with a little inspiration and motivation.
He appealed to individuals and companies who love swimmers and wish the young swimmers to excel or expose their talent and skill to the world to come to their aid.
He said in 2018, Abeiku Jackson set a new national record in the 50m freestyle on April 9, 2018 at the Commonwealth Games with a time of 23.47secs.
Before, on April 5, 2018 in Australia, USA based Jason Arthur set a new national record in the 50m backstroke with a time of 27.26secs, 100m backstroke with a time of 56.52secs and on April 8, 2018 he set a new 200m backstroke record in a time of 2:03.91secs.
He also made 2:07.44secs in the 200m individual medlay on April 10, 2018 in Australia.
Abeiku Jackson who was skipper of Team Ghana to the All African and Youth Olympic Games demonstated his leadership by example style to set another record in the 50m butterfly in 24.44secs and the 100m butterfly in 54.52secs on October 10 and 8 respectively.
His time of 54.74secs broke the African Juniors record in the 100m butterfly which was held by a South African in Algiers.
For the exciting girls, Maayaa Ayawere made 1:04.71secs in the 100m freestyle on April 8, 2018 at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
She went on to make 27.60secs in the 50m freestyle at the World Championship on December 15, 2018 in Hanghou, China.
According to the president, she has made impressive times, and only one second away to qualify for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.
He said there are swimmers who can perform in pools and others who can swim very well in the ocean.
He was sad that after all the exploits and achievements of the young swimmers, none of them were recognized by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), and it is very discouraging, however they remain focused and are training hard for future assignments.
The president commended the national swimming coach Mr. Kodwo AbbiewJackson and the entire executives and all who have contributed to the success of Ghana swimming.
Meanwhile, Abeiku Jackson has been rewarded a UN Global Public Excellence Gold Star Award for his efforts in 2018 and as the leading swimmer in Ghana, the ceremony was held at the Movinpic Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
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