Saint Lucia’s Ethan Hazell swam a personal best time in the 50-meter butterfly at his debut in the World Swimming Championships in Hungary. The young athlete, who turned 17 only last month, occupied Lane 2 during the qualifying rounds on Tuesday morning, and gave a remarkable account of himself. While he didn’t advance to the next round, Hazell finished in 23.36 seconds, shaving over three seconds off his previous best which was 27.23. This is a fantastic result for his first-ever participation in the prestigious competition.
Commenting on this performance, Hazell’s World Championships coach, John McLennon, expressed pride in the teenager’s outstanding performance.
“Ethan Hazell’s dedication to the sport of swimming, his club, and his coach continues to shine through in his performance today. Given that this is his first World Championship, he swam with vigor and determination. Though he did not make the finals in the 50m fly, he showed significant improvement with a personal best time of 23.36 seconds. This marks his first World Championship in the 25m pool, and it certainly won’t be his last. We’re excited to watch him race again on Saturday in the 50m freestyle!”
Hazell, a multi-discipline athlete growing up, is poised to be one for the future. He has been part of Saint Lucia’s team at events such as the OECS Swimming Championships and the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, where he displayed strong performances.
Hazell was part of the team that secured seven medals at the recent CARIFTA Aquatic Championships, helping to highlight the country’s growing reputation in aquatic sports. His latest feats showcase the dedication of Saint Lucia’s young athletes to competitive swimming and their potential on both regional and international stages.
Hazell will hope for an even better showing when he participates in the 50-meter freestyle on Saturday.
