11th Indian Ocean Islands Games: Swimming |29 August 2023

Gold at last

• Felicity Passon and Simon Bachmann bring Seychelles’ first gold medals

Finally, the Seychelles’ national anthem ‘Koste Seselwa’ has been echoed at the ongoing 11th Indian Ocean Island Games in Madagascar, more precisely at the Olympic pool of Vontovorona yesterday after swimmers Felicity Passon and Simon Bachmann won Seychelles’ first gold medals at the Games.

Both medals came in the 200m individual medley.

In the women’s race, Passon clocked 2 minutes 28.64 seconds (2:28.64) to finish first and win the gold medal, while also confirming her status as the country’s number one female swimmer.

Second in the race was Mahée Gory-Lauret of Reunion in 2:29.81, finishing ahead of compatriot Elisa Montrouge who was third in 2:44.51.

In the men’s race, Bachman clocked 2:10.00 to finish first and clinch the country’s second gold medal, ahead of Mael Dujoux of Reunion who was second in 2:13.75. Mauritian Matteo Tin Wan Yuen was third overall in 2:16.62.

Passon was on the medal podium for a second time yesterday, this time to collect a silver medal after finishing as runner-up in the 200m backstroke, clocking 2:19.89. The race winner was Mauritian Anishta Teeluck with a time of 2:19.01.

Third overall was Julie Nadaud of Reunion who clocked 2:31.06.

Roland Duval