Guyana’s top swimmer, Raekwon Noel, delivered a strong performance at the Pan American Games in Chile, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final.
Competing in the 400-metre freestyle race, Noel secured a second-place finish in the heats with a time of 4 minutes, 07.38 seconds.
He trailed behind Costa Rican swimmer Alberto Vega, while Cayman Island’s James Allison secured third place.
Despite this podium finish, Noel landed 17th overall, just outside the cutoff for the A and B finals.
He now stands as the first alternate for the final, in case of any withdrawals.
Reflecting on his performance, Noel expressed satisfaction, believing he executed the race as he had intended.
He acknowledged that there were some missed opportunities but considered it a valuable learning experience for future engagements.
Noel is gearing up for the 800-metre freestyle and 400-metre individual medley events.
In the realm of taekwondo, Guyana’s sole representative, Ceili Peterson, faced off against Costa Rica’s Laura Sancho in the round of 16.
Peterson, who is based in Toronto, Canada, displayed a commendable effort, ultimately falling short with a score of 2–1 in favor of Sancho.
Peterson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete on behalf of her home country and affirmed that she gave her best effort.
The games are currently underway in Santiago, Chile.