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Hopes For Medals In Swimming

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 Source: Amo-Mensah, Kwasi

Over the years, it has been a difficult task for Ghana winning medals at Olympics and other international competitions. I believe strongly that if we had prioritised swimming as a sport in Ghana, we would have been winning lots of medals in high profile competitions. Facilities are not there to train people in swimming but if we mean to institute it as a favourite sport in the country, we would really part ways with medal barreness at Olympics and other international competitions.We have won too few medals as a country. It is therefore pertinent to explore other sports for hopes of more laurels.

Ghana boasts of outstanding swimmers in the Central Region who are waiting to hear a motivational whistle from the Ghana Olympic Commitee and the Athletics Association before puting their talents to test. Anyone who watched the 2004 Olympics would be so desperate to see Ghana in the swimming contest.

There are lots of places in Ghana which can give us good swimmers. Talk about towns at the coast, then you are talking about areas which can surely get Ghana into the medal zone at Olympics. You would see swimmers turning themselves inside-out in water combined with speed and confidence. Our main problem would be coaching which brings into focus the issue of an expartriate coach. However, this would not be an impediment. If we get the facilities intact, our dear swimming giants would not see their talents going down the drain.

The last Olympics saw Ghana getting zero gold, zero silver and zero bronze. Who knows, maybe swimming, had we participated, would have been our only pride. With Black Meteors and the Aziz Zakaris missing medals painfully, it is now time to re-dire! ct our medal winning hopes on sports like swimming. Sometimes trial and error is helpful. This would not even be an issue of trial and error. With confidence and determination, we can go places with swimming considering our abundant talents. I hope against hope that Ghana gives a nod to swimming as her competing game at Olympics and other international competitions to bring smiles in the midst of lovers of Ghana athletics. All the best, Ghana Athletics.