Swimming: 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Doha, Qatar (February 2-18) |15 February 2024

Aaliyah Palestrini clocked 32.07 seconds to finish first in her heat (Photo: Contributed)

Aaliyah Palestrini wins 50m backstroke heat

Despite not qualifying for the final, Aaliyah Palestrini yesterday brought some pride and excitement to the country after finishing first in her 50m backstroke heat at the ongoing World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar.

Palestrini clocked 32.07 seconds to finish first in heat number one of six.

Also in action yesterday was Simon Bachmann in the 200m individual medley and he could only manage a seventh-place finish in heat number two of five, clocking 2 minutes 7.85 seconds (2:07.85)

Seychelles’ other swimmers at the championships are Dorianne Bristol (open water - 5km), Damien Payet (open water - 5km), Thierry Payet (open water - 5km), Angelina Smythe (100m backstroke and 100m freestyle), and Adam Moncherry (50m freestyle and 50m butterfly).

They are being accompanied by coach Robert Suzette.

Meanwhile, also yesterday, chairperson of the Seychelles Aquatic Federation (SAF), Muriel Morgan attended the extraordinary general congress of Africa Aquatics, which took place simultaneously with the championships, whereby the main topics of discussions were on constitutional amendments, precisely the modification of the Africa Aquatics constitution, aligning it with that of its parent body which is World Aquatics.

Speaking to Sports NATION, Mrs Morgan explained that all member countries voted in favour of the changes, adding that there were debates and amendments on the office terms allowed to executive committees.

Instead of 10 years, as it was previously the case, an executive committee can now serve 12 years – three four-year terms – , while the Africa Aquatics executive committee has now expanded, catering for three representations, instead of two from each zone.

Mrs Morgan added that other than the congress, her other mission is to network with other countries from the continent to see how Seychelles can benefit from their expertise in terms of technical assistance, as well as the possibility of exchanges in terms of competitions.

Roland Duval