Home|Sports|‘Year of the Comeback’ for Lamar TaylorSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 4, 2023 159 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A quick look at Bahamian swimmer Lamar Taylor on the blocks, in the call room or even on the deck supporting his teammates, reveals a quiet and laid-back person. However, make no mistake, Taylor is larger than life after he hears the starter says, ‘on your marks, set’ and the buzzer signals go and he plunges into the pool. It has been a very loud and long swimming season for him, with him dubbing it – ‘Year of the Comeback’.

Taylor, in an exclusive interview with Guardian Sports, said that this year was special for him, especially after last year’s season – an average one by his standard, he said. He has learned a lot from last season, particularly how to approach meets and execution.

“It was a very successful season this year, coming back from last year. I didn’t really perform as well as I wanted to last year, so coming into this year, I had to redeem myself, especially with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). I believe last year not even making any finals or a final, it just really didn’t sit right with me. So, was just focussed on a lot of redemption this year,” Taylor said.

Taylor, who attends Henderson State University, won three NCAA Division II swimming titles this year, becoming the first Henderson State Reddies swimmer to win three national titles at one meet. He medaled twice at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, breaking national records, and he also represented The Bahamas at two world aquatics championships – long course and short course. Taylor said he enjoyed competing at the NCAA nationals very much.

“NCAA was my most enjoyable just because I had a lot of my college teammates there and it was a fun time,” he said. “Worlds long course would be second just because of the competition and how high it ranks, and the CAC Games would be at the bottom just because it was more of a business trip. I didn’t get to see much of El Salvador. It was just strictly swim and then just go home afterwards,” he added.

At the NCAA Division II Swimming Championships back in March, the Bahamian was able to touch the wall first in the 50-yard free with a time in 19.24 seconds. He then won the 100-yard back with a time of 46.42 seconds. Taylor wrapped up his individual competition with a time of 42.30 seconds in the 100-yard free.

Apart from winning those three titles, Taylor was named the Great American Conference (GAC) Male Athlete of the Year, the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Male Swimmer of the Year, the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division II Male Swimmer of the Year and also the Henderson State Male Athlete of the Year.

“It was really exhilarating, really thrilled at the end of the NCAA meet. I wasn’t expecting all of it. At most, I was expecting one and then maybe a top three finish and top eight. Even though I had the three fastest times going into NCAAs, I really didn’t expect to actually finish top three just because one of my old coaches always said that paper doesn’t swim,” Taylor said.

Scott Serio coaches Taylor at Henderson State. The Bahamian says Serio and him have like an almost father and son relationship while he is away at school. Serio also coached The Bahamas’ national team at the world championships.

“I definitely look up to him as a father figure while I’m off to school,” Taylor said. “Training with him has been amazing and I’ve been able to put up some impressive times. Almost every day, we sit down and have a conversation on things that we could change or things that we need to focus on. We would look at what people are doing right now, like in the top 20 and top 16 and just look at doors that are opening and at where I am at, just trying to figure out what I can change, what I can do differently and what I can do right now to make myself better going into my next season.”

At the CAC Games, Taylor secured the gold medal in the 50 meters (m) backstroke with a national record time of 25.08 seconds. He won the bronze medal in the 50m free with a time of 22.51 seconds. The Grand Bahama native was fifth in the 50m butterfly after clocking 24.23 seconds. He was also seventh in the 100m free with a time of 50.38 seconds.

“I was shocked. I didn’t shave or taper down at all. It was a training to get into some races and just to see where I was at and what things I needed to fix going into worlds. I’ve seen a lot of guys being top-seed and not even make it on the podium. I wouldn’t say I was scared, but I wasn’t at ease. I had to give it my all and just try and touch the wall as fast as possible, and to my surprise, I had great swims, almost perfect, and a perfect breakout,” he said.

At the just concluded World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Taylor swam a strong race in the 50m back, clocking 25.12 seconds to finish 17th – one one-hundredth of a second from qualifying for the semifinals. He swam a national record in the 100m back after clocking 55.03 seconds on the lead leg of the 4x100m medley relay. He also set a national record in the 50m free with a time of 22.26 seconds. Taylor swam a national record in the 100m free after leading off the 4x100m free relay in 50.10 seconds. He finished 40th in the 50m butterfly in 23.91 seconds.

After a long season, the health performance major with a minor in psychology is at home with his parents, Lester and Gena Taylor, resetting his mind and body as he prepare for the upcoming season that can culminate with a trip to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.