Swimming standout Alana Dillette has retired from the competitive side of the sport.
Addressing her fellow swimmers during the opening of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) National Swimming Championships on Friday, June 20 at the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Swim Complex, Dillette, a 26-year-old doctoral student at Auburn University, thanked all who assisted in her swimming career.
An Olympian, who competed for The Bahamas in Beijing, China, in 2008, Dillette pledged to continue her involvement in the sport to assist young Bahamians interested in swimming. Dillette graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in tourism and hospitality, and then continued her education, achieving a master's degree. Dillette is now pursuing her doctoral studies and is a graduate teaching assistant at the faculty of human sciences in Auburn University.
In her retirement remarks, Dillette encouraged young Bahamian sportsmen and women to contribute to the reputation of Bahamas swimming in the world of top-level athletics, while also furthering their own opportunities.
"In high-level sport, there is a world of possibility in education, career advancement, networking and travel. Once you have the basic ability and the determination to train and perform at your best, there can be a great fit in the world of quality sporting academics for everyone who has made it here to these Bahamas swimming nationals of 2014."
Dillette, who established many Bahamas and regional swimming records during her career, singled out her first coach, Freeport Aquatics Club's Albert Bell, as instrumental in her early development. The retiring swimmer also thanked coaches Andy and Nancy Knowles of Swift Swimming, from whom she spring-boarded into international and collegiate competition. She also credited the excellent swimming program at Auburn University for helping her to reach and maintain world-level ability.
Also receiving special mention in Dillette's remarks at the 2014 nationals was the Royal Bank of Canada for its long-standing sponsorship of swimming in The Bahamas, the Ministry of Sports and the family of the late Betty Kelly-Kenning who greatly advanced Bahamas Swimming through the gift of the Olympic-sized 50-meter pool at the aquatics center.
Dillette also gifted winning swimmers at this year's nationals with cutting-edge swimsuits and other swim paraphernalia, courtesy of Auburn University.

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