Olympic swimmer from Blackwood finishes his race with pride, optimism

A South Jersey Olympian broke his own record Saturday but fell short of advancing at the Paris Games.

But Raekwon Noel, an 18-year-old swimmer from Blackwood, expressed optimism after his Olympics debut.

"See you again in four years," said Noel, who graduated this year from Highland High School and plans to swim for Indiana University.

Noel represented Guyana in the 400 meter freestyle, finishing 30 seconds behind his first heat's winner. It was his only event in the Paris Games.

Olympics debut: Highland grad Raekwon Noel swims for Guyana

Noel's time — 4:02:29 — broke the record he had already set for any Guyanese swimmer, according to a media outlet in the former British colony on the northern coast of South America.

His former personal best was 4:03.57, reported the Guyana Daily News.

"I'm so proud of what I've achieved," Noel, a dual citizen of the United States and Guyana, said in a post-race statement at his Facebook page.

"My mission is to make Guyana even more proud in the future," he said, noting it was "an absolute pleasure" to represent Guyana.

Noel expressed gratitude to those who believed in him "in moments when I didn't believe in myself."

He thanked the South Jersey Aquatic Club in Voorhees and the Dorado Speed Swim Club in Guyana, along with God, the Guyanese people, and his family and friends.

"I love you all.," the statement said.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Olympic swimmer from Blackwood finishes his race with pride, optimism