Elinah, 14, and Amarah, 16, are from the Virgin Islands, but they live in England. On Tuesday, Elinah won a bronze medal at the 30th annual Carifta Games Swimming Championships in the 13-14 girls 50-metre freestyle.The sisters represent the territory at various international swim meets, including the XX Commonwealth Games last year, where the territory made its debut in swimming. Additionally, Elinah won a gold, a silver and two bronze medals at last year’s CARIFTA Games in Aruba while setting national records in each of those events. At the time, she also set a CARIFTA record in the 50-metre butterfly. Amarah also competed at the Games and set a 50-metre freestyle personal best in 29.18 seconds.
Elinah: Originally, my sister and I took swimming lessons at a very young age. When we first moved to Bristol we continued taking swimming lessons, but I didn’t enjoy it. I sat on the side of the pool and watched with all of my gear on for about one year. When my mother threatened to stop paying for me to go, only then did I get into the water. I was 5 at that time, and ever since that moment I flew through the groups. I eventually stopped going to swimming lessons and took up competitive swimming when I was 9.
Amarah: My mom got me started in swimming when I was about 5 years old. I really enjoyed swimming, so I joined my first swim club and I’ve just stuck with it ever since.
What do you like most about swimming?
Elinah: I absolutely love the feeling of the water all around my body. Especially when I pull, I love to feel myself moving through the water. When I race I love the feeling of the adrenaline rushing through my veins as I stand behind the blocks. It always reminds me of why I love what I do so much.
Amarah: Being carefree, the camaraderie of the sport and seeing I’ve done a personal best on the scoreboard.
Who is your hero?
Elinah: My hero, I would say, is my mother. She is definitely my biggest supporter, and I know I can turn to her for absolutely anything, whether it is advice, help, or even just some motivation. In a lot of ways I try to be like her: to remain positive, calm, strong and always know that I am capable of achieving anything I put my mind to.
Amarah: My mother is my hero. She has overcome so many obstacles and supports my sister and I every step of the way, and I know it can get very tiring. I’m just thankful that she pushes us the way she does.
What is your training schedule like?
Elinah: My training schedule is quite personalised to my abilities.
Amarah: I train every day except Saturdays. I do some mornings and every evening, I also have three gym sessions per week and yoga.
How have you adjusted to England?
Elinah: I have adjusted well. The cold weather was never a bother to me, and I think that England is an extremely interesting and fun place to live.
Amarah: I’ve adjusted really well. We’ve been back in the United Kingdom for almost three years now and I’m enjoying it.
What do you miss the most of the Virgin Islands?
Elinah: I definitely miss my family and friends. I also miss the beaches and the island feel. Although England is an island, I will always consider the Virgin Islands my home.
Amarah: I miss my family, friends, the sun and the food. The VI will always be home.
What was the purpose of the move to the UK?
Elinah: Originally we moved to the UK for opportunities: opportunities in swimming, better education and anything else we wished to pursue.
Amarah: We moved to the UK to improve our swimming and academics. We are exposed to more opportunities here in the UK.
What are some of the challenges you have faced with moving to the UK? Has it helped your swimming career?
Elinah: Moving to the UK has definitely affected my swimming career in a positive way. When I moved to the UK I faced — and still do face — many challenges. It can be hard balancing swimming and school, catching up on schoolwork after I travel to meets. It is extremely difficult trying to get the right amount of rest at night and having lots of homework to do. It was hard to squeeze it all in. I have also faced injury challenges. In 2012, I had bad knees towards the end of the year. I have experienced many cases of swimmer’s shoulder. I have also pushed through some months of shin splints.
Amarah: I haven’t had many challenges since I moved here. It was difficult adjusting to the amount of meets we attended and the increased training, but this has helped my performance in the pool. Also being a black swimmer, I guess I noticed that we are a very, very small percentage, which was kind of strange for a time. It opened my eyes and motivated me to work harder.
What could the Virgin Islands do to help grow or advance the sport of swimming in the territory?
Amarah: To advance swimming as a sport, the VI should encourage swimming at a young age and place it in schools, similar to what they do here in the UK. Swimming is a life skill that everyone should learn.
What are your goals in swimming?
Elinah: My goals in swimming are to compete at the highest level in my sport, and to keep doing what I love for as long as I can. I aim to train to the best of my abilities and achieve the best that I can, while being the best that I can be.
Amarah: The Olympics. That’s my goal. I just want to be the best that I can be.
What accomplishment in swimming are you most proud of?
Elinah: I am proud of my Carifta record, which I beat by more than a second, and I am also proud of my experiences overall competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the World Short Course Championships in Doha.
Amarah: I’m most proud of competing at the Commonwealth Games and the World Short Course Championships. I had an amazing time at those meets and hope to compete there again.
What advice would you give someone who wants to become a competitive swimmer?
Elinah: Competitive swimming takes a lot of effort. If you love what you are doing, it feels more like something you have to do and not something you are forced to do. To succeed at a sport like this you need to focus on you: your stroke, your technique, your dive, your start, your energy and your lane. If you focus on the person in the lane next to you, you may beat them in a race sometimes and come first, but you will never win the race. The real race is the race against the clock and yourself, not anybody else.
Amarah: Work really hard and have fun doing it. I know it sounds cliché, but as long as you’re enjoying it, stick with it.
When you’re not swimming, what do you like to do? Hobbies?
Elinah: When I am not swimming I like to do yoga, read, have family time, catch up on any sleep, decorate or redecorate my room. I can cook but I’m not the best baker. I watch TV, catch up with friends that are in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere.
Amarah: When I’m not swimming, I’m probably doing schoolwork or relaxing. I like to have days out to London too: That’s always a good time.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Todd VanSickle.
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