George Bovell

George Richard Lytcott Bovell (born 18 July 1983) is an Olympic bronze medalist swimmer and former world record holder from Trinidad and Tobago. Bovell is also a two-time World Championship bronze medalist, a record five-time Olympian and is the Caribbean region's most successful swimmer.

George Bovell
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Bovell III
Nationality Trinidad and Tobago
Born (1983-07-18) 18 July 1983
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight93 kg (205 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesIndividual medley, freestyle
College teamAuburn Tigers

Bovell is also respected for his voluntary philanthropic initiatives such as "The World Swim Against Malaria and Drowning" in Uganda, 2013, with his friend, Ugandan swimmer, Max Kanyarezi. He is known for organizing and conducting the annual "George Bovell Dive In Free Swim Clinics", that are free for the youth of Trinidad and Tobago who enjoy the privilege of being coached and mentored by renowned Olympic Medalist Swimmers from around the world. Bovell has been the writer of the popular inspirational newspaper column in the Trinidad Guardian entitled "Reflections Off The Water". He is also one of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers from the Port of Spain hub. In addition to being a swimmer, Bovell is also a renowned freediving specialist, and enjoys under water wildlife videography and spearfishing.[6]

Olympic career

George Bovell represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics. At the 2004 Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the men's 200 IM: the 9th medalist in the country's history and 12th medal overall.[7] It was also the first-ever Olympic swimming medal for the country, and T&T's only medal from the 2004 Olympics. Bovell also made it to the Finals of the 50m Freestyle in London where he placed 7th in the fastest field ever assembled after returning from a forced hiatus due to a brain injury earlier in the season. Bovell carried the T&T flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the 20th Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena, Colombia and in the closing ceremonies of the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games.

World Championships

In 2013 Bovell won the Bronze Medal in the 50m freestyle at the FINA World Long Course Championships in Barcelona against the fastest field ever assembled in the sport, one in which every competitor in the final was an Olympic Medalist. His Bronze Medal time of 21.51 seconds would have won the silver in the London Olympic Final a year earlier.

In 2012 Bovell won the Bronze Medal in the 100m Individual Medley at the Fina World Short Course Championships in Istanbul, a testament to his versatility.

Bovell has been in 10 World Championship finals since his first in 2001.

Swimming Career Highlights
  • Olympic Bronze Medallist
  • Former World Record Holder
  • Two-time World Championship Bronze Medallist
  • Six-time Pan Am Games Medallist (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)
  • Ten-time World Championship Finalist
  • 2nd Place Overall in the 2012 FINA World Cup (7 gold, 9 silver)
  • Five-time Individual NCAA Champion
  • Eight-time Individual SEC Champion
  • Caribbean and Central American Champion of three consecutive games and record holder, also 3 silver, 2 bronze
  • Former NCAA Record Holder
  • Most All American Honours in Auburn History with 25
  • Multiple Caribbean and Central American record holder
  • Four-time NCAA Team Champion
  • Undefeated in NCAA team Division 1 swimming career

Trinidad and Tobago National Awards
  • Chaconia Gold
  • Humming Bird Gold
  • Trinidad and Tobago Sportsman Of The Year 2004 & 2014
  • TTOC Athlete of the year
  • 2012 CCN TV6 Viewers Choice Sports Personality of the Year
  • 2013 Trinidad Express Personality of the Year
  • 2014 CCN TV6 Viewers Choice Sports Personality of the Year
  • 2014 Trinidad Guardian Sportsman of the Year
  • 2014 Trinidad Tobago Olympic Committee Sports Personality of the Year

Main Events

Year

 Event Race Position
2000 Summer Olympics 50m Freestyle Heats
2000 Summer Olympics 200m Ind Medley Heats
2000 Summer Olympics 400m Ind Medley Heats
2001 World Championship 200m Freestyle Heats
2001 World Championship 200m Ind Medley Finals 4th
2001 World Championship 400m Ind Medley Heats
2002 Short Course World Championship 200m Freestyle Semifinal
2002 Short Course World Championship 100m Ind Medley Semifinal
2002 Short Course World Championship 200m Ind Medley 7°
2003 World Championship 200m Freestyle Semifinal
2003 World Championship 200m Ind Medley 5°
2004 Summer Olympics 100m Freestyle Semifinal
2004 Summer Olympics 200m Freestyle Semifinal
2004 Summer Olympics 200m Ind Medley
2006 Pan Pacific Championship 50m Freestyle 8°
2006 Pan Pacific Championship 100m Freestyle B Final
2007 World Championship 50m Freestyle Heats
2007 World Championship 100m Freestyle Heats
2008 Summer Olympics 50m Freestyle Semifinal
2008 Summer Olympics 100m Freestyle Heats
2008 Short Course World Championship 50m Freestyle Semifinal
2008 Short Course World Championship 100m Ind Medley 8°
2009 World Championship 50m Freestyle Finals 7th
2009 World Championship 100m Freestyle Heats
2010 Pan Pacific Championship 50m Freestyle B Final
2010 Pan Pacific Championship 100m Freestyle Heats
2010 Pan Pacific Championship 50m Backstroke B Final
2010 Short Course World Championship 50m Freestyle Semifinal
2010 Short Course World Championship 100m Ind Medley 4°
2011 World Championship 50m Freestyle 7°
2012 Summer Olympics 50m Freestyle 7°
2012 Summer Olympics 100m Backstroke Heats
2012 Short Course World Championship 50m Freestyle 4°
2012 Short Course World Championship 100m Ind Medley
2013 World Championship 50m Freestyle

Best Times
  • 50m LCM freestyle (suit) 21.20
  • 50m LCM freestyle (textile) 21.51
  • 100m LCM freestyle 48.82
  • 200m Freestyle LCM 1.48.80
  • 200m LCM Individual Medley 1.58.80
  • 50m freestyle SCM 20.82
  • 100m freestyle SCM 47.03
  • 100m Individual Medley 51.15
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References
  1. "2004 Olympic Games swimming results". CNN. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  2. "Swimming Results". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  3. "Swimming Results". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  4. "Swimming Results". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  5. "Pan American Games Rio 2007 Results". Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday, Let the Games begin, By Joan Rampersad, 8 August 2008". Retrieved 10 August 2008.
Records
Preceded by
Attila Czene		 World Record Holder
Men's 200 Individual Medley (25m)
25 March 2004 – 8 December 2005		 Succeeded by
László Cseh
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Ato Boldon		 Flagbearer for  Trinidad and Tobago
Beijing 2008		 Succeeded by
Marc Burns
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