James Weekes and Jonathan Essien
St Kitts and Nevis will be represented on the international stage at the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming Championship, scheduled to take place from December 10 to December 15, 2024. The prestigious event will be held at the Duna Arena in Budapest, Hungary, and will bring together elite swimmers from around the world to compete across multiple disciplines.
The Federation will be represented by one athlete, Jonathan Essien, who will compete in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly events. His participation marks an important moment for aquatics sports in St Kitts and Nevis and highlights the continued development of competitive swimming within the Federation.
Strong Representation by the St Kitts Nevis Aquatics Federation
The St Kitts Nevis Aquatics Federation has confirmed Jonathan Essien as its sole representative at the championship. According to federation officials, his selection reflects consistent performance, dedication to training, and readiness to compete at the highest international level.
President of the federation, Eldon Thomas, expressed confidence in Essien’s preparation and praised the progress he has made over the past year.
Thomas noted that Essien currently lives and studies in Sweden, where he has access to high-quality training facilities and competitive swimming programs. This environment, combined with disciplined training and strong support from coaching staff, has played a key role in his development.
Training and Preparation Abroad
Essien’s training base in Sweden has provided him with regular access to modern pools and advanced training methods. His preparation has also included close collaboration with the Federation’s National Swim Coach, James Weekes.
This partnership has focused on refining technique, building endurance, and improving race strategy, particularly for the butterfly events in which Essien will compete.
Key factors contributing to his progress include:
- Consistent access to professional-level swimming facilities
- Structured training programs tailored to sprint butterfly events
- Ongoing guidance from national coaching staff
- Commitment to balancing academics and high-performance sport
Federation officials say these elements have helped Essien demonstrate steady improvement and readiness for international competition.
About the World Aquatics Swimming Championship
The World Aquatics Swimming Championship is a major event on the global swimming calendar. Over six days of competition, athletes will take part in heats, semifinals, and finals across a range of swimming disciplines.
Events are scheduled with morning sessions dedicated to heats, while semifinals and finals will take place in the evenings. All races will be hosted at the Duna Arena, a venue known for hosting major international aquatics competitions.
Events Featured at the Championship
The championship program includes races across several swimming styles and distances, offering a comprehensive test of speed, endurance, and technique. Featured events include:
- Butterfly
- Backstroke
- Breaststroke
- Freestyle
- Individual medley
Jonathan Essien will focus specifically on the butterfly discipline, competing against top-ranked swimmers from around the world.
Building International Experience
Participation in the World Aquatics Swimming Championship provides valuable exposure for athletes from smaller federations. For St Kitts and Nevis, Essien’s appearance at the event represents an opportunity to gain experience at the highest level while showcasing national talent on a global platform.
Federation officials have emphasized that international competition plays an important role in athlete development, helping swimmers benchmark their performance and gain confidence racing against elite opponents.
As the championship approaches, supporters across St Kitts and Nevis will be watching closely, proud to see their nation represented in Budapest. Essien’s participation reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen aquatics sports and inspire future generations of swimmers throughout the Federation.