St. Maarten’s Sharmar Thomas is trying to swim his way into the Olympics. He has already qualified to swim in the Caribbean and Central American Games this summer.
“I think he is the first swimmer to qualify for the CAC’s,” said coach Burton Theodora. “This is truly a historic moment for St. Maarten.”
If Thomas does well in the 50 freestyles and the 50 butterfly, he could qualify for the Pan American Games and from there it is on to the Olympics. The top five of the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, this July will automatically qualify for 2019 Pan American Games to be held in Peru.
The top seven Pan American athletes automatically qualify for 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
St. Maarten athletes carry a Dutch passport so they cannot attend the Olympics under the St. Maarten Flag. However, under International Olympic Committee rights of the athlete, if an athlete qualifies for the Olympics he or she can participate under the Olympic flag.
Thomas started swimming at age three. He trained to swim competitively with Coach Frankie and the Sharks swim team.
He was then selected to participate in the St. Maarten Sport & Olympic Federation’s (SMSOF) Promising Athletes high-performance programme.
“Now I am an international swimmer,” said the 18 year old. “The training is much harder and strenuous. It is every day, except Sundays.”
Thomas swims 90 to 120 minutes each day at either the Caribbean International School pool or the open water surrounding the Friendly Island. He also must watch what he eats and work out at the gym.
Thomas is a graduate of St. Dominic’s High School. After swimming, he dreams of doing aircraft repair. “I want to get into aviation,” said Thomas. “I’m hoping to go to school and learn to work on planes.”
