To get an insight into the minds of some of Cayman’s inspiring teens, we asked four of teens who have started their sporting career and made their mark in the industry. They share some advice for others looking to get into sports, how the pandemic affected their training and some important lessons learned as an athlete.
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson, 21, is a Laser Standard sailor and is studying Yacht Design & Production at Solent University in the UK. In 2019 he represented Cayman in the Pan American Games and came first at the Abanca sailing week in Spain.
Who has inspired you the most during your sporting career?
My very first sailing coach, Kelvin Brown. He regularly keeps in contact with me, no matter what part of the world I am in.
How has the pandemic affected training for your sport?
The pandemic has drastically affected my training. Several of the sailing camps I was booked to attend in Europe were cancelled. Travel and quarantine restrictions meant I was unable to train with my coaches and achieve the maximum training.
Why are you so passionate about your sport?
Being on the water is something I have loved ever since I was a child. Sailing has given me the opportunity to be at one with nature on the seas, as well as having the opportunity to travel to various countries in the world and meeting new people who are passionate about sailing just like me.
If you could go for dinner with a famous sportsperson, who would it be and why?
I would choose Ben Ainslie, just to hear all his sailing adventures. He would have many stories to tell.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sports?
In Cayman I like to go fishing with my Dad or my friends. I enjoy going offshore for deep water snapper, swordfish and tuna. In the UK I have started fly fishing — in particular for trout and grayling.
What’s next for you competition wise?
Lots of events have been cancelled or postponed due to Covid. Travel and finances permitting, I hope to enrol in smaller sailing camps and events in Europe and Australia and in the future the Olympics are always on my mind.
Pippa Grace
Pippa-Grace Parker is 18 and plays for Cayman’s U19 women’s rugby 7s team. She has just completed her A Levels at Cayman Prep & High School and has applied to Northumbria University for 2022.
What is your greatest sporting achievement to date?
I was Cayman Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2019, received the the Paul Howard Memorial award for Sportsmanship in 2018 and Paul Howard Memorial award for Excellence in sport in 2019. However, my overall greatest achievement to date was playing with my team and placing 5th out of 45 teams from across North America at the Las Vegas Invitational 7s in 2019.
Why are you so passionate about your sport?
Rugby has always been a part of my life, the game became second nature to me.
What is one important lesson you've learned from your time as an athlete?
Rugby has taught me not to aspire to be the best on the team, more to aspire to do the best I can for the team. There are no “Allstars” in rugby, everyone is fighting together towards the same goal. When a player goes down, she is supported by players who ruck over her and protect her and the ball. Off the field, I have learnt that supporting one another and working together to bring out the best in each other is what defines our success.
If you could go for dinner with a famous sportsperson, who would it be and why?
I would love to go to dinner with Pele, not only was he one of the greatest footballers in his time but additionally I look up to and respect his ideology on dedication. My favourite quotes include “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do” and “The ambition should always be to play an elegant game.”
What advice would you give to girls looking to get into rugby?
Rugby may look scary due to high levels of contact, but coaches are there to help you execute every movement in a safe environment. Rugby is all-inclusive sport and regardless of your physique, there is a position for everyone.
Will Sellors
Will Sellars, 15, is a Year 10 student at Cayman Prep & High School. He swims with Seven Mile Swimmers and has so far broken three Cayman records in 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke.
How has the pandemic affected training for your sport?
We were not able to swim in the pool but we kept fitness levels up by doing workouts on land and over Zoom. Luckily, since we dealt with the pandemic quickly in Cayman it hasn’t affected swimmers here as much as others.
What’s the best and hardest thing about being so dedicated to your sport?
The best thing is when you come first in a race or get a qualifying time and you know that all of the hard work and dedication has paid off. Unfortunately, this dedication can mean having to give up other activities or being with your friends — but I believe it is worth it.
Is there a coach or athlete that you look up to as a role model and why?
My coach Darren Mew, who is an Olympic breaststroke finalist. I would like to achieve what he did and maybe further, but in backstroke. I really like the way he trains our team. It is more focused on short high intensity swimming rather than long distance swimming.
What is one important lesson you've learned from your time as an athlete?
As an athlete I have learnt that you need perseverance. If something doesn’t go your way, if you lose your race or miss a time by a few milliseconds you can’t dwell on the mistakes you have made. You need to improve from your mistakes as almost always you will have another chance.
How did it feel to break the 19-year-old 100m backstroke record this year?
Obviously, it felt very good to break that record and go under the one-minute mark. It shows how all the hard work I have put into training is paying off. Andrew Mackay’s records have also been a very good goal that I had over this past year and his records have pushed me to become better.
Willow WIlkinson
Willow Wilkinson, 16, is a student at Cayman Prep & High School. She is one of Cayman’s top tennis juniors and represented Cayman at the Island Games, Gibraltar
in 2019.
Who has inspired you the most during your sporting career?
I think I would probably say Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem just because I love their game styles. I am constantly impressed, and I think ‘woah wouldn’t it be cool if I could do that.’
How has the pandemic affected training for your sport?
When we were in lockdown, all tennis came to a screeching halt. Even if I wanted to, I could not go out and practise my serve by myself. I was definitely rusty when we were allowed to play again. I think because of the pandemic, I can now appreciate how great it is that I can play every day and enjoy playing with other people for fun.
What’s the best and hardest thing about being so dedicated to your sport?
Generally, I would say the best thing is that with so much practise, I can see the progress within my game. However, I find it difficult that sometimes when people think of me they instantly connect me with tennis and assume that is all I am interested in — I also love to play netball, volleyball and to bake!
Is there a coach or athlete that you look up to as a role model and why?
I have had quite a few coaches since I started playing tennis and I have especially looked up to Dale Avery and Yana Koroleva. Dale could always find the fun on court and Yana is an admirable person and an amazing player.
Where is the most exciting place you’ve travelled to compete and why?
Definitely the Island Games in Gibraltar. The atmosphere was so different from anything I have experienced here. I never thought I would have the chance to play in such a big tournament, climb the Rock and say a monkey stole my hat and threw it off a cliff!
