After months of training, dedication, and determination, Team Aruba returned home from the XXXVIII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2025 with more than just medals—they came back with memories, milestones, and national pride.

Held from April 20–24 in Trinidad & Tobago, CARIFTA is the premier youth aquatics competition in the Caribbean, With over 300 pool and 60 open water swimmers representing  24 nations, this year’s competition set the stage for remarkable achievements—and Team Aruba delivered.

A Journey Across the Region

The trip itself was no small feat. The delegation traveled from Aruba to Curaçao, then on to Trinidad & Tobago, with 30 pool swimmers, 2 open water athletes, and a dedicated team of coaches, chaperones, officials, and support staff. The group returned home in three waves—tired, but fulfilled, and ready to celebrate a job well done.

Aruba’s Medal and Record-Breaking Success

With standout performances across multiple age categories, Aruba achieved a 5th place overall finish out of 16 competing nations and brought home a total of 30 medals:

• Boys 11–12: 5  Gold, 7 Silver, 5 Bronze
• Girls 11–12: 2 Silver, 4 Bronze
• Mixed 11-12: 1 Silver
• Boys 13–14: 1 Bronze
• Boys 15–17: 5  Silver

But it wasn’t just about medals. Aruba also celebrated four new national age group records, a testament to the rising level of talent among our youth swimmers.

National Records Broken:

• Inald Fernandes Perna (Boys 15–17)
  • 100m Freestyle – New record: 0:50.80
    – Broke the national age group record set by Olympian Mikel Schreuders in 2016

• Inald Fernandes Perna (Boys 15–17)
  • 50m Freestyle (Prelims) – New record: 23.56
    – Surpassed another record by Mikel Schreuders, this one dating back to 2015
• Mixed 11–12 Freestyle Relay (4x100m)
  • Leandro Santiesteban, Alyssa Ras, Jayla Stuut, Zayron Werleman
    – New record: 4:16.11
• Boys 11–12 Freestyle Relay (4x50m)
  • Leandro Santiesteban, Shine  van Loon, Enzo Croes, Zayron Werleman
    – New record: 1:52.95
• Boys 11–12 Medley Relay (4x100m)
  • Zayron Werleman , Leandro Santiesteban, Ruben Mansur, Shine  van Loon
  • – New record: 4:48.46

These incredible performances highlight Aruba’s growing presence in the Caribbean swimming scene and the bright future ahead.

Open Water Representation

CARIFTA concluded with the 5K Open Water Race, where Emma Ras and Ethan Cunha represented Aruba for the first time at an international Open Water event. Both swimmers showed impressive stamina and skill:

• Ethan Cunha  – 5th place (of 16) – 1 hour, 09 minutes

• Emma Gobert – 6th place (of 11) – 1 hour, 17 minutes

Behind Every Athlete is a Team

The success of CARIFTA 2025 was made possible by a strong support system:

• Coaches who guided every stroke and strategy
• Delegation leaders and chaperones who ensured the team’s safety and well-being
• Officials who not only supported locally but also represented Aruba internationally, in both the pool and open water

Their work behind the scenes was essential to the success of the trip.

Looking Ahead

CARIFTA 2025 was more than just a competition—it was a milestone in the growth of Aruba’s aquatics program. With records broken, medals won, and international experience gained, the Aruba Aquatics Federation is excited for what’s next.

To all our athletes, coaches, supporters, and families: thank you for making this journey so memorable. You have inspired a nation.

CARIFTA GALERY