Olympic Swimmer Belinda Phillips

Jamaican Olympic Swimmer Belinda Phillips qualified for the 1972 Munich Games at the age of fourteen. She is the first woman to represent Jamaica in swimming at the Olympics. Belinda talks about her swimming career and her Hall of Fame coach Neville Alexander. Belinda Phillips is from a family of competitive swimmers, her brother Andrew was a finalist in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

[@janinafisher101]

I was on the ICHS Swim Team when the Phillips girls were there, and I seem to remember us bumping into each other at Flamingo Hotel pool. I remember Belinda going to the Olympics. Nice to see what she ended up doing!

[@ruthwatt2624]

Very interesting! You mentioned Johnny Lopez, who along with Neville Alexander, were the "architects of modern swimming in Jamaica". At 94, Mr Lopez still swims, and was teaching adults and children to swim until the pandemic forced him into "retirement". He has a treasure trove of stories to tell, as coach of medal winning Paralympians back in the 60's. I showed Mr Lopez this feature on Belinda. He loved it!

[@TheRealJamaica]

Yes... I know...Mr Lopez gave my children stroke correction lessons

[@sketchified8064]

I was with Bellinda last summer at Bird Lakes Park

[@sketchified8064]

Now I'm at the Tamiami Therapeutic Recreational Inclusions program