Butler sets national record in Rio heats
Lara Butler in the Womens 100m backstroke heat 2 in Rio
(CNS): Lara Butler’s debut at the Olympics is one the local swimmer is unlikely to forget after she set a new national record and a personal best in the 100 metre backstroke. Her time of 1:04.98 was not enough to see her through to the semi-finals, as she was several seconds off the qualifying time, but one she was very pleased with. “I’m happy, it was a good swim for me,” she said. “I couldn’t really ask for much more.” Finishing sixth in her heat, Butler’s time was the 29th from a field of 34 competitors.
Butler and her brother were selected for Rio 2016 through the International Olympic Committee’s Universality Programme, aimed to help smaller countries send athletes to the Games even if they didn’t meet qualifying standards.
With a job in the financial services sector starting in October, Butler’s swimming career may be at an end.
“The Olympics, that is the pinnacle of swimming, this is the best thing, so if I do end I couldn’t end on a better note than this. Watching all the best swimmers in the entire world swimming here like world records being broken yesterday in the heats. It’s pretty incredible,” she told Jade Webster, Cayman’s Olympic press representative.
Category: Local News
How do you get exemptions from qualifying times? It would be good if the islands could get some for Caymanians with limited opportunities. This does seem rather like all the scolarships that get offered to the privilidges few.
did her participation mean another poor girl who swam faster missed out on her opportunity of a lifetime to race at the olympics?
I’m sorry, but I’m going to call a spade a spade, how can someone go to the Olympics, swim the fastest anyone has ever swam in these Islands and not even make the Semis?
Should we be putting this level of talent forward knowing they are not performing at world class levels?
I can run the 100 meter dash in 13 seconds, I have no expectations of going to the Olympics when people are sprinting that distance in less than 9.7 seconds.
I think we should invest in our athletes through propper training and financial support but we should not be putting them onto the world stage until they’ve attained a certain level of performance.
Good effort on the part of the athlete, no blame being placed there.
Lara came 29th out of 34. great achievement. always good to see Cayman islands on the world stage.Try not to be so negative next time.
Fully agree with you 8:04!
People we need to stop the negative post. Cayman is not the only small country to get this opportunity.
She did not not place last and most importantly, she also swam her best and set a national record. What the hell more can we ask!? When you do your best that is a victory in itself.
If only athletes who can make the semi go to major games such as the olympics, it would add up to the same. Some would not make the semis. What would be the point of that?
We all have to start somewhere and Lara was the best female to be given the opportunity seeing she earlier this year, won bronze at British Uni Swim Championship.
Well done Lara! Many of us Caymanians are very proud of your fantastic effort!
I applaud you as a top athlete, for all you have contributed to the betterment of Women in Sports on our Islands. You are a great role model!
100m in 13 seconds would put you level with around 4 billion people. she came 29th out of 34.
That is what is wrong with this Island why so many Caymanians suffer in the workforce, we have a habit of praising mediocrity instead of raising the bar and telling people to aspire for greatness.
9:20am please stop! Ugh!!! Then go to the head of the class… and while you at it …please take your dunce cap with you.
You are so off the mark it is not funny. Do you hear yourself?!
Unbelievable…how else are they going to keep improving if they don’t get to compete with the best?
Many national record holders of many other countries do not make the semi finals at the olympics but participate and represent their countries well as Lara did.
Geoff and Lara. What an honor to have you there!
Lara, you’re a star.
But thousands of people represent Cayman on a daily basis, they work hard and they bring revenue into these islands. But, they are considered ‘foreigners’ who take your jobs and who destroy Cayman with their hard work, contribution to society and liberal views.
Lara is a star amongst a bunch of space rock, long may stars like Lara proliferate and may Cayman become a more tolerant place to live for us all.
I want not what you are drinking, dear.
Congratulations Lara. Your accomplishments are great. When we give our best we are winners.,
Well done to all who represents Cayman on the international fields. You make us who we are.
Hmm, ‘native Caymanian’ or ‘paper Caymanian’, convenient when you have no other choice isn’t it. Hypocrites!
Congrats Lara, this experience for you will be priceless. Hope your career in finance somehow affords you more training and another Olympic opportunity.
Thanks for representing Cayman!
Good girl, well done Lara.
Well done!!
Congratulations- job well done!
Congratulations and well done. What a tremendous experience it must be for you. Just making it to the Olympics is an incredible achievement.
Good job Lara!!