STEFANO SIZZLES!MITCHELL UNDERLINES STATUS AS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN’S FASTEST MAN WITH A HISTORIC 50 FREE PERFORMANCE OF 22.99!

On June 29, 2023 Antigua and Barbuda Olympian Stefano Mitchell earned himself the title of the EC’s (Eastern Caribbean) fastest swimmer. He did this in record breaking form. He won the B final of the 50 metre freestyle at last year’s Central American and Caribbean in 23.06 .That gave the EC their highest placing at the multisports competition held in El Salvador.

Stefano Michell. Photo courtesy of Azura Florida Aquatics

Falling by the wayside was the his national record of 23.12. Also beaten was the old EC standard of 23.08 held by Saint Lucian Olympian Jordan Augier. With the title secured all eyes were on Stefano to see if he would be the swimmer to carry the EC under 23 seconds.

At the 2024 CARIFTA Championships he again proved why is the man to count on for speed in the EC.

In the heats of the event at the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre Mitchell produced a season best time of 23.31. That was his fifth fastest performance . It was also his 27th sub 24 seconds performance. The final would see Mitchell usher in a new era of speed for the EC region. He pushed the limit to record a time of 22.99! A massive breakthrough. Silver went to Bahamian record holder Lamar Taylor in 22.32. The Gold was won by the CARIFTA region’s second fastest swimmer of all time Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympian Dylan Carter in 21.98.

He gave this reaction to his monumental swim

“It is an amazing feeling and a true honor to be the first male swimmer in the EC to do so. It’s been something I have been working hard towards since going under 24 seconds in 2017.”

Stefano and Coach Wayne Mitchell .Photo courtesy of the Antigua and Barbuda swimming federation

Stefano trains with his father Wayne Mitchell at the Viper swim club at home .Coach Mitchell gave us an insight to his training and preparation for CARIFTA 2024

“Stefano does six sessions per week for an hour. Stefano started training with me last year November after establishing his goals where he was training. He was quite confident going into CARIFTA as he was feeling adaptations and good strength. He also came off season best swims in Doha, so he knew he was getting faster again”.

The standard bearer has set a high standard in the event and will be looking get even faster and move the EC up the all time CARIFTA 50 freestyle rankings as the season continues.