Saint Lucia’s Biggest Swim Meet Turns 25

The Rodney Heights Aquatics Centre (RHAC) Invitational marks its silver anniversary this week, with the 25th edition set to host 345 athletes from eight territories and 25 clubs. 

As the largest inter-club swimming competition in Saint Lucia, the event offers the country’s Carifta-bound swimmers a final tune-up against rivals from the Caribbean Community and the USA ahead of next week’s regional championships.

Running from April 10-13, the meet will feature six age groups – from 8 & Under to 18 & Over – under the theme “Friendship Through Competition.” Participants must be registered amateur swimmers as defined by World Aquatics, with eligibility sanctioned by their national federation. The action kicks off on Day 1 with the 1500m freestyle.

The RHAC Invitational is the brainchild of Dr Diane Worrell, who pioneered Saint Lucia’s first 25-meter competition pool at Rodney Heights in Gros Islet in the early 2000s. Before its construction, the 15-meter pool at Club Saint Lucia served as the island’s primary swim venue. At this year’s press launch, Worrell reflected on her 25-year journey, detailing her efforts to develop the facility and elevate local swimming standards.

“The beauty of this competition has been that we have prided ourselves not on being a Carifta, where you have to be an elite athlete to go to that event,” Worrell said. “We wanted a competition where babies, if they need to swim, they can swim. We’ve had four- and five-year-olds swim, because what we have found is that this competition has allowed small children to get their footing in the sport, in friendly competition.”

Worrell highlighted that the Aquatic Centre was an investment not just in infrastructure but in Saint Lucia’s sporting future. She extended gratitude to the swimmers, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and sponsors, including this year’s platinum sponsor, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, for their role in the event’s success.

Also present at the launch were Alfred Emmanuel, president, Saint Lucia Olympic Committee; Eddie Hazell, president, Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation; and representatives from sponsors such as Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association, Real Foods, Lucelec and Caribbean Events. Additional support comes from WeAquatics, a swim program founded by Worrell’s son, David, in Washington, DC.