Savaneta, Aruba — The Aruba Aquatics Federation proudly hosted the Himno y Bandera Competition from March 6 – 9, bringing together the island’s finest swimmers for four days of outstanding performances, national pride, and record-breaking swims!

National Record and new CARIFTA Qualifiers

The highlight of the weekend was Avi Tromp’s phenomenal swim in the 100m Butterfly, where she shattered the Aruban National Record with a time of 1:04.09! Avi dropped over two seconds from her previous personal best to secure the new record, breaking the long-standing mark held by Keeley Maduro since April 2015—nearly 10 years ago! With this achievement, Avi now holds the National Records for both the 100m Butterfly Long Course and Short Course, in addition to the Long Course 50m Butterfly. Congratulations, Avi!

The Himno y Bandera competition also served as the final qualifying opportunity for the upcoming CARIFTA Games in April. We are thrilled to announce:

• 2 new CARIFTA qualifiers, and
• 11 existing qualifiers who improved their times or added new events to their schedules.

The weekend was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and hard work of our athletes as they strive for excellence in the pool.

International Competition: Westmont Tyr Pro Series

Meanwhile, across the ocean at the Westmont Pro Swim Series in Illinois, Patrick Groters broke his own Aruban National Record in the 50m Backstroke, lowering his time by 0.03 seconds to 26.29 during the prelims session on Day 2! Patrick previously set this record almost seven years ago at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla in 2018.

Adding to the excitement, Mikel Schreuders made his mark at the TYR Pro Swim Series, earning two first-place finishes in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke, and two third-place finishes in the 100m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly. An outstanding performance from Mikel!

Thank you!

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the volunteers, whose tireless dedication and passion are the heart and soul of everything we do. Without you, these events would not be possible! We also thank the families, friends, and supporters who filled the stands and cheered on the athletes with such enthusiasm. And of course, a big thank you to the athletes themselves for their incredible perseverance and achievements.

For full competition results, please visit our website at arubaaquatics.org and check out our blog page.

Next Event: Artistic Swimming Competition!

Join us for the Himno y Bandera Artistic Swimming Competition on March 14 & 15 at Piscina Olympico Roly Bisslik in Savaneta. Come and support our talented artistic swimmers as they showcase their skills and artistry!

Stay connected and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @arubaaquatics for all the latest updates and event information.