5-year-olds star at “Catch-them-Young’’ 4th Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Swimming Competition

5-year-olds star at “Catch-them-Young’’ 4th Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Swimming Competition

The 5-year-olds, Nabil Abdulsalam, a Primary One pupil of Corona School, Ikoyi, and Aidan Dunije, also in Primary One at Grange School, Ikeja, were the star attraction at the just-concluded 4th Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Swimming Competition as thrilled fans with skills.

The grassroots development swimming competition co-sponsored by Zenith Bank and Ikoyi Club, ended on Saturday at the Swimming Section of the Ikoyi Club 1938.

The young students were from the selected 18 schools in Lagos, comprising 12 primary schools and six secondary schools.

The selected schools are Grange School, Ikeja, Corona School Ikoyi, British International School (BIS), Lekki, Greenspring Schools, Temple School, Italian International School, Victoria Island and St Saviours School, Ebute Meta.

Others are Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Ikoyi, Kings School, X Factor, Ikoyi, Edgewood College, Kristo Ball Schools and Children International School, Lekki.

The events during the competition included Freestyle 50m, Backstroke, Breaststroke Freestyle and Medley relay in the boys and girls U-7, U-9, and U-13 category.

For Nabil and Aidan, who are first timers at any swimming competition, age was not a barrier to compete against older swimmers.

It is pertinent to note that Nabil against all odds made it to the podium as he emerged third in the backstroke boys for the U-7 category.

For Nabil’s dad, Tunji Abdulsalam, a swimming enthusiast, there is nothing stopping his kid toward achieving a great status in swimming, a dream he says, he will pursue.

“I took him to pool as early as one-year-old in the company of his older siblings and fortunately, he took interest in the sport.

“This is his first tournament as a kid and he was able to impress turning up with a third place finish in his category.

“What is left for me is to get a good coach for him so that he will be able to be included in the Ikoyi Club team. I will have to give him all the necessary support.

“He is a boy that loves to play a lot, so, swimming as a sport will be good for him,’’ he said.

For Aidan, he was able to present a display that depicts a bright future of his foray into swimming in the three event that he entered for which are Breastroke, Butterfly and Backstroke.

Grange School, Ikeja, emerged as the overall winners of the swimming competition with nine gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals.

The winners were closely followed by Edgewood Schools, Ikoyi, with seven gold, one sliver and three bronze medals, while Children International School, Lekki, placed third with five gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

For the primary school category, Children International School topped the medals chart with nine gold, six silver and three gold medals, while St Saviour’s, Ikoyi, emerged second with eight gold, 17 silver and nine gold medals.

On the third position is Grange Schools, with five gold, four silver and seven bronze medals.

For the individual award, Seni Adekoye, a student of Grange Schools emerged the “Most Valuable Person (MVP) in the secondary category for his brilliance in getting four gold medals.

The MVP for the female category went to Emmanuel Adama from Edgewood School who showed class with five gold and one silver medal.

The Promising swimmer, Abdul-Jabbar Adama showed class in his category and was rewarded with the MVP award for the primary school category.

Also, the MVP for the female category went to Morinsola Idowu from Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Ikoyi.

 

 

Source & Photo Credit: NAN