Swimmers continue the medals rush

Tuesday 11 July 2023

Guernsey's 4x50m Freestyle Relay team beat their own Island Games swimming record in a thrilling night of action at the Beau Sejour pool.

The four women - Hannah Jones, Laura Le Cras, Orla Rabey and Tatiana Tostevin - completed their race in 1:44:92.

The previous record of 1:45.86 had been set by Le Cras, Rabey and Tostevin swimming with Courtney Butcher in Gotland in 2017.

Rabey said she wasn't expecting to do so well in the relay or in her individual 100m Butterfly, for which she also won gold last night.

"I've gone in with a gold medal in mind, definitely for an individual gold but to come out with two in the first night, you can't beat it."

Rabey said it took a while for the news to sink in.

Pictured: The swimmers received a lot of support. (ROB CURRIE)

"... definitely coming off the high of the relay where everyone was screaming...obviously, we know that swimming is an individual sport and you're aiming to get the best time, the best performance you can and then you get on the podium and win the gold, with the team!

"I think one of my favourite parts about Island Games, compared to what we're used to competing in, when we go away to UK competitions, it's all about ourselves and how we beat them so to come out here and compete with my friends as well is like, you can't really beat it, can you?"

Rabey said she was shocked and pleased to break her own relay record with the "incredible" competition they faced.

"It was our record back in Gotland in 2017 so we kind of knew we could do it. I know my friends came down, and family were cheering me on and it's really special before you even get off the block, Then when you actually win a gold medal that's pretty cool.

"My mum give me my gold medal tonight so it was pretty special!"

The swimming pool spectator areas were all full ahead of the evening session starting at 18:00 on Monday. Viewers were directed to the Beau Sejour theatre where a live stream was being screened.

There was plenty of action to keep everyone entertained.

Pictured: Charlie-Joe and Ronnie Hallett (ROB CURRIE)

Guernsey's Games veteran Tom Hollingsworth won his 50th medal at Island Games competitions, with a silver in the men's 50m backstroke.

He was beaten to the gold medal by less than half a second, after an issue with a starting block in a different lane meant the swim had to be rerun at the end of the night.

Elsewhere, the Hallett brothers were competing, with younger sibling Ronnie claiming gold in the men's 100m breaststroke over his older brother Charlie-Joe.

Charlie-Joe also won bronze in the men's 200m individual medley.

The men's 4x50m medley relay team won bronze, with a gold for Ariana Wheeler in the women's 400m individual medley and a silver for Laura Le Cras in the women's 50m breastroke.

Pictured top: Orla Raben swimming for gold in the Island Games. (ROB CURRIE)