Crooks makes Cayman proud at Paris Olympics
(CNS): Cayman Islands standout swimming star Jordan Crooks finished the Men’s 50m Freestyle Finals less than 0.4 seconds behind the winner, Cameron McEvoy of Australia, and a hair’s breadth, just 0.08 seconds, behind Bronze medalist Florent Manaudou of France. In a race where there were the merest split seconds between the race times of the eight finalists, Crooks swam neck and neck with some of the fastest swimmers in the world.
The final results of the Finals, held at La Defense Arena in Paris, were:
- Cameron McEvoy, Australia, 21.25
- Benjamin Proud, Britain, 21.30
- Florent Manaudou, France, 21.56
- Josh Liendo, Canada, 21.58
- Kristian Gkolomeev, Greece, 21.59
- Caeleb Dressel, United States, 21.61
- Leonardo Deplano, Italy, 21.62
- Jordan Crooks, Cayman Islands, 21.64
“It was not the race I wanted, but it’s OK,” he said afterwards. “I was able to get into the Final and race with some of the best people in the world. So, I just chalk it up to a learning experience and move on from there.”
Crooks may have sounded disappointed, but back at home, excited messages of support for his remarkable achievement were pouring in.
The Cayman Islands Government said on social media: “We are immensely proud of Jordan Crooks, who gave his all in the Men’s 50M Freestyle event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Jordan, your dedication, hard work, and determination have been truly inspiring. You represented the Cayman Islands with honour and we couldn’t be more proud of your incredible journey. Thank you for inspiring us all and showing the world what Caymanians are made of!”
Crooks, who posted the second-fastest time in the semifinals yesterday, swam out of Lane 6 in the finals. He was only one-tenth of a second behind his semifinal time, but most of the other swimmers posted their fastest times of the Games in the final.
“It was close to the times I put up yesterday. A little bit slower, but just motivation to try and be faster
next time,” he said.
Crooks seemed to break a record or make Cayman Islands swimming history every time he stepped on the deck this Olympic Games. He is the first Cayman Islands swimmer ever to qualify for an Olympics Final, and he broke his own Cayman Islands record in the event by swimming a 21.51 in the Heats round.
He also joined Brett Fraser as the only two Cayman Islands swimmers to advance to the Semifinals in multiple events at the Olympics and became just the third Caymanian swimmer to qualify for a Semifinal.
“Definitely always trying to shoot for high goals,” Crooks said. “I never set any specific expectations on a medal. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I did my best to get to that point and I know that the past 48 hours has been the best swimming I could put up.”
Commenting on the support from home, Crooks said, “Definitely been a lot of support from friends, family, previous coaches. Thank you to everyone who has supported. It means a lot. I appreciate it.”
Information and quotes from Crooks supplied by CIOC Press Attaché Kevin Morales.
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Category: Local News, Sports, Sports, swimming
If I hear anyone say he came last again, I may have to drop them. 8th best in the World out of a global population of circa 8 billion, pretty damn good if you ask me!
Let’s Go Grand Caymans home team!
Proud of you Jordan, Devonte and the other Olympic athletes. Making it to the Olympics is success in itself and you’re all young enough to reach 2 more.
Hope your support system doesn’t flag and that you all can train consistently for the next four years and more.
Congrats!!
Very well done, Jordan! An incredible achievement to make it so far. All very proud of you back in Cayman!
if only he had gone a bit faster….
In the semi final on the day prior, Crooks went 21.54, which would have given him the bronze in the final… had he performed the same. It looks like nerves got the best of him in the final as we know what he is capable of. Even still, he stands among the absolute best in the world and has his best years of competition ahead of him.
Josh Liendo did pretty well. Amazing what long course training can do for you.
Hope he is honoured at Government House with a special medal. This is so remarkable. All of those contestants should have gotten a gold medal in that seconds do not really count when all of them were so close in timing. There have been more than one award handed out in the past for these achievements. Well done, Jordan as you represent the Cayman Islands in this global event.
An 8th place medal. What will it be made from? Styrofoam?
Jordon is 8th in the world! If you could do better perhaps you should have entered. Jordan we are proud of you !
3:35 AM – Bored, drunk, drugged, unable to sleep and looking to talk some crap? What a miserable life you must have.
Cayman Swimming has an ethos of our athletes competing by comparison to world times, not local, not regional, world times. It is that focus that has driven our swimmers to excel over the years.
Jordan is already the reigning World Champion in the Short Course 50m, he would not want a medal other than one he earns, and he was, as the article said, only 0.08 seconds away from one.
50m freestyle athletes have the potential for real longevity (Manadou won bronze this year, having won gold 12 years ago), Jordan has, if he choose, many years ahead of him.
From humble beginnings, you rose and are now one of the top ten swimmers in the WORLD. Thank you Jordan for representing the Cayman Islands on the world stage. So incredibly proud of you. You made history, Jordan. You have nowhere to go but up.
Thank you Sir, God bless and keep you safe.
Well done, great achievement, no disappointment! If you don’t mind me saying, with a bod like that you are already a winner🫠👍
Half a second between 8 swimmers is incredible! Well done Jordan, Ignore the naysayers when they arrive on here. You’ve done that wee island proud!
Tell is you don’t understand the sport without saying you don’t understand the sport.
Tell us you’re a miserable bastard that sits at the computer in your underwear without telling us you sit at the computer in your underwear *gag*
This is only the beginning. This remarkable athlete now has an Olympics under his belt and has proven that he is part of the best in the world. Watch what’s to come in the LA games.
A job well done!
He may have been 8 th but when you look at the time for forst and eighth it’s just so close. One day he will bring it home im certain. Stay focused young man . Cayman is proud
He is still young. He did extremely well.Congrats Crooks. All clocked in the 21. His start is extremely good and is kicking the best in the world. We are expecting great things from this guy.
Thank you to Jordan Crooks, a Caymanian (🇰🇾)hero! Words cannot express how proud we are and, without doubt, the best is yet to come. Keep up the great work.
Equal best Cayman Islands finish at an Olympic Games with the much revered and respected Cydonie Mothersill. Same roots too.