Visit of swimmer James Goddard-Seychelles-born swimmer Goddard calls on Minister Pool |01 October 2004

After stunning the swimming world to pick up Commonwealth gold in the men's 200m backstroke in his hometown of Manchester in 2002, Goddard appeared to have won bronze at the recent Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, when Aaron Peirsol was disqualified for a freestyle kick at the 150m mark.

But the American was reinstated after a protest to win the gold medal in a new Olympic record of 1:54.95, relegating Goddard to fourth position in a time of 1:57.76.

"It was harsh on the guy who won," Goddard told the media after the race. "We are aware of the marker and I can't imagine he went past 15m. I'm not happy really but I've got another four years and I'm sure I'll be in Beijing."

Exactly a month after the end of the Games in Athens, Goddard, a member of the Stockport Metro Club in England, is on a week-long visit in Seychelles and Thursday September 30 he met with Ms Sylvette Pool, Minister for Local Government, Sports and Culture, in her office at Oceangate House.

Also present were sports principal secretary Patrick Nanty, National Sports Council managing director Eric Arnephy and Seychelles swimming Association chairperson Hazel Austin.

Minister Pool told Goddard that she was “proud of him for having reached that standard.” “Keep it up. Hopefully you’ll win a gold medal at the next Olympics.”

The minister added that she hoped Goddard’s visit here will “help to inspire young Seychellois swimmers to train hard to reach the same level as you.”

Minister Pool even teased Goddard by asking him if he would like to represent Seychelles one day, and the backstroker replied:
“`I’m not sure. This is too hard a question to answer.”

Goddard, who saw Shrone Austin and Bertrand Bristol in action in the pools in Athens, noted that Seychellois “swimmers have a lot of potential.”

During his time here, Goddard is helping in the training of young Seychellois swimmers. On Wednesday September 29, he was at the Beau Vallon beach training with local swimmers and Thursday, he had a gym session with them.

It is unfortunate that Goddard cannot use the Roche Caïman Olympic-size pool, which is under repair, to train along with local swimmers.

Goddard’s achievements are:
- a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley at the Commonwealth Games in 2002
- two gold medals in the 200m and 400m individual medley of the European Junior Championships in 2001,
- a silver medal in the 200m individual medley of the European Junior Championship in 2000,
- a gold medal in the 200m individual medley and a bronze in the 400m individual medley of the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2000,
- a gold medal in the 200m individual medley and a bronze medal in the 400m individual medley of the Six Nations Junior International in 2001, 
-  two gold medals in the 200m and 400m individual medley of the Six Nations Junior International in 2000. 

G. G.