John Bodden begins Games with two events
(CNS Local Life): Swimmer John Bodden will be making his Pan Am Games debut when he hits the pool Tuesday, 6 August, for the 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly heats. If he qualifies for the finals, the medal events will be held that same evening. His other event is set for later in the week, when he will be competing in the 1,500m freestyle Saturday, 10 August.
Bodden said he is excited to be in Lima, Peru, for the Games. “I’ve never been to a meet like this before, so being able to compete at a level like this is something that is very different for me so I’m most excited about that,” he said.
Though he is competing in 200m and 400m events, Bodden explained he has shifted focus to long-distance training. “I started with the mid-distance events and then I transitioned over to the 1,500 because I…felt that that suited me a lot better. I was pretty good at the 5K’s and I did a few 10K’s,” he said, noting that it was an “easy transition”.
He has been swimming longer distances for the last four or five years, he said, adding that focusing more on the distance events felt “natural”.
Bodden has been practising with fellow Stingray Swim Club members. “We’ve done a lot of distance. We’ve put in a lot of metres,” he said. “We’ve put it together really well and I think that it will pay off this week.” As of Monday, he had gotten in three swims in Lima, saying, “I feel pretty good. I’ve been hitting pace so I’m pretty confident going in.”
He is ready for his first events, and said he is looking forward to both of his opening races. “I think I put in a lot of work, I think it will show up big in the ‘four free’ (400m). Also, in the ‘two fly’, my butterfly has been feeling pretty good, so hopefully I can perform the way I want to.”
Whatever his final results, though, he is proud to be part of the Cayman team. He said he hopes “to do my best and represent the Island as best as I can. Because at the end of the day no matter what time I go, I’m still representing the Cayman Islands and I think that’s the most important part about it.”
Lauren Hew and Brett Fraser open their Games on Wednesday, in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, respectively.
