15-year old Abeiku Jackson’s Rio 2016 Dream

With less than 18 months to Rio 2016, many national athletes are taking aim at qualifying for what is billed to be the biggest global sporting competition in the world next year.

Among those aiming at securing a place in Team Ghana is a 15-year old national swimmer, Abeiku Jackson who was part of Team Ghana’s young swimming contingent to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Glasgow team included Ophelia Swayne, Kwaku Addo, Kwesi Abbiw Jackson, Abeiku Jackson and Nana Kwabena Antwi.

The teenagers broke national records and endeared themselves to all who watched the action from the Tollcross International Swimming Center in Glasgow.

Ophelia Swayne led the honours blazing to a new national record and a personal best 29.66 in the women’s 50m butterfly event.

Youngster Abeiku Jackson equally set a new national record in the men’s 100m freestyle event after placing third in Heat 3 in a time of 56.47 to improve his previous personal best 56.71, which he set at an international competition in Germany earlier.

Jackson was at it again last week when he broke the national 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle records at the just ended Lincoln Community School Annual Swim Invitational tournament.

The Tesano Dolphins swimmer clocked a new personal best 1:16.17 secs in the breaststroke before breaking new grounds in the 100m freestyle in a time of 55.98, which was better than the old record of 56.47.

Abeiku told Times Sports he was satisfied with his performances, adding that his ultimate aim is to have a World or Olympic gold medal around his neck.

It seem six months after making his senior appearance at the Glasgow Games, Abeiku wants to move to the next step. He said the Rio Olympics presents a bright opportunity for that challenge.

He has won a total of 16 gold medals for Ghana at the underage level, with seven of them coming from the 42^nd International Schwimmfest.

There is still more work to be done though if the teenager’s Olympic dream is to become a reality as he needs to beat the designated A and B cut times.

He needs to meet the qualifying mark of 1:00.57 (A) or 1:02.69 (B) in the 100m breaststroke and 48.99(A) or 50.70(B) in the 100m freestyle event.

The qualifying period runs from March 1, 2015 through July 3, 2016 at FINA Approved Events.

But he could still qualify for the Games if he is brought in on a “Universality” placement as there will be 900 places up for grabs.

He sure has the audacity to dream and work at it.

Below are the qualifying times for Rio 2016.

2016 Olympic Qualifying Time Standards