Sports

Grange: outstanding Alia brings glory with world record swim

Alia Atkinson
Photo: Alia Atkinson

Kingston, October 26, 2016 – Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has sent congratulations to Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson who broke the world record in the 50 metres short course breaststroke event in Tokyo, Japan today (Wednesday).

Minister Grange said:
“What a joy it is to receive this great news and to see the wonderful headline across the world — ‘Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson breaks world record’.  We should add the word ‘again’ to that headline because Alia has done this before.

Alia consistently brings glory to Jamaica and continues to be an inspiration to us all.

I congratulate her on this magnificent achievement, which adds to a long, growing and impressive list of outstanding performances.

Let us all celebrate with her and wish her continued success.”

Atkinson posted 28.64 seconds to break the previous world record of 28.80 for the 50 metres short course breaststroke which was set in 2009.

Atkinson is also currently a joint world record holder for the 100 metres breaststroke after tying the record in 2014 and again earlier this year.

At the 2016 Rio Games, she became a two-time olympic swimming finalist — no one else in Jamaica has achieved that distinction.

Commentary
We have not done much on Alia Atkinson who has swam her way into our hearts. We join with Minister Grange in congratulating her on her success in the pool. Alia has been a great ambassador for us … people of colour are not known to do well in swimming … Alia has broken that glass ceiling.
Congrats to you Alia!
Commentary by Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie who is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.

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