It has been another successful moment for young Jenebi Benoit, who hails from the St Paul’s community — an athlete in the field of swimming who has earned himself, his swimming club Grenfin, and Grenada, some proud moments.
Jenebi, who swims in the 11 to 12 age category, his final year in this category, has just returned from Trinidad where he participated in the ASATT Invitationals. Benoit earned himself 7 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze of the 11 events in which he participated. He also came away with the high point award, a 1st place trophy which he holds in the photo, and already a qualifying time of 27.65 seconds, in the 50 metre Fly for this year’s CARIFTA. 35 teams participated in this meet. Among them were teams from Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia and several teams from across the host country, Trinidad.
In May 2016, Benoit participated in the Barbados Swimming Association (BASA) Invitational Swimming Championships, where he earned himself the 2nd place trophy. Prior to this, he was selected to represent Grenada, at the 2016 CARIFTA Swimming Championships which was held in Martinique in March, where he became a bronze medalist. At the CARIFTA meet Benoit earned Grenada’s first CARIFTA medal for the season in the 50 metre Fly event. He made it to the finals in all, except one of the events in which he participated. But it did not end there for Benoit. In June, he was again selected to represent Grenada at the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) held in the Bahamas. At CISC, Benoit did Grenada even prouder when he caused the Grenada flag to be hoisted and the anthem to be played having won himself a gold medal in the 50 Fly event, among other competitors from 21 countries which included Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua and the host country, Bahamas and more. Benoit did not only win gold at the CISC but he also came away with 3 other medals — 2 silvers and 1 bronze.
It still did not end there for this young swimmer. At the recently held OECS Swimming Championships in St. Vincent, he again turned out victorious obtaining the high point trophy in his age category and contributing significantly among others, to the team’s victory, having obtained 9 gold medals and 2 silvers of his 12 events.
Congratulations are in order to this young and promising swimmer who, despite the limited training facility that he uses here at home, a 25 yard swimming pool at Good Hope in St. Paul’s, is still able to successfully represent Grenada. Well done Jenebi! Keep striving!
Grenfin Swim Club