2 days ago
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WALKING ACROSS the stage to receive the 2024 Aquatics Athlete of the Year award at the recent RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards was a life-changing experience for young swimming sensation Kia Alert.
“When I received the national award it made me feel accomplished, knowing that I never just won a heat or an event, but an overall award for the sport of swimming,” Kia told The Gleaner in reacting to the prestigious honour.
Kia, who turns 14 years old next month, said the honour came as a major surprise to her because she was not aware of the award category nor did she expect she would be under consideration.
She believes, however, that the award is a major milestone in her young career and a moment she will remember for the rest of her life.
“It was indeed a surprise to me because I never knew that the award even existed, and when I found out that I had won it, I was shocked yet so proud of my accomplishments in 2024,” she said.
“I am now 13 years old, and receiving this recognition now is definitely a life-changing experience which I will cherish forever.”
Kia had enjoyed an impressive 2024, stamping her place as one of the rising sensations for Jamaica in the pool.
Outside of multiple gold medals throughout the year, Kia has written her name in the history books, holding four national age-group records.
She broke the 10-12 age group national record in the 50-metre freestyle when she clocked 29.51 seconds.
She continued her record-breaking form in the same event as in the 11-12 age group. She also holds the record with her 27.28-second clocking.
At the Pan American Age Group Swimming Championships in August last year, she set a new national record for the girls’ 11-12 age group 50-metre breaststroke, clocking 33.85.
She also shattered the record in the girls’ 100-metre breaststroke with her time of 1 minute, 17.91 seconds.
She also claimed the High Point and the Highest Aqua Point awards at last year’s Carifta Games, which she marked as her 2024 magnum opus.
“Throughout the year I broke four national records, many meet records, and received high-point trophies, which I appreciated. But at the end of the day, I knew that these were just first steps,” Kia explained.
“Going back through 2024’s performance, I realised it wasn’t easy. The whole year was interesting for me, starting with Carifta, where I won the High Point and Highest Aqua Point trophies, respectively. This I would call my biggest achievement.”
Her mother, Dahlia Alert, stands as one of Kia’s biggest supporters. She said watching her daughter receive the national award was one of the proudest moments of her life.
“Well it took a while for there to be full clarity that she was actually gonna be an awardee,” she explained.
“There was total pride and elation with her being a whole nominee, so learning that she was actually gonna be awarded something was definitely next level.”
Alert, the self-described ‘cheerleader-in-chief’, said her daughter’s success comes from her determination and drive, which make her role as a supportive parent all the better.
“It is, in fact, her determination. Her commitment is a pull-factor for me as she is quite committed and very clear as to what she wants. So I believe that at the very least, I just have to offer as much support as I understand it,” Alert explained.
“I think that these tenets make persons want to be there for her. She has a very supportive village comprising the teachers at her school, Hillel Academy High, the coaches at Tornadoes Swim Club, and the many pumpkin vine aunties and uncles, and I am very appreciative.”
English (US) ·