Bahamian swimming sensation Lamar Taylor continues to make waves on the international stage, claiming his second medal in as many days at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay.
Just 24 hours after capturing bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle, Taylor returned to the pool at the Olympic Aquatic Center and stormed to silver in the men’s 50m freestyle, clocking 22.11 seconds on Wednesday. It was one of his fastest swims ever, falling just shy of his national record of 22.05 seconds set at the Bahamas Aquatics Federation National Swimming Championships in June and matched at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this past July.
With the third-fastest reaction time off the blocks, Taylor powered through the water with precision, proving he hasn’t lost a step since his record-breaking summer. Brazil’s Guilherme Caribe took gold in a new Games record of 21.72 seconds, completing his sprint double after winning the 100m freestyle the day before. Taylor claimed silver, while Nikoli Blackman of Trinidad & Tobago and Pedro Sansone of Brazil tied for bronze in 22.32 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Taylor led all swimmers out of the heats with a time of 22.32 seconds before shaving two-tenths of a second off in the final.
The 22-year-old phenom is already cemented as the most decorated male swimmer in Bahamian history. His résumé includes gold and silver medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games, bronze at the senior Pan American Games, appearances at the Commonwealth Games, and representing the Bahamas at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This week’s performance adds to his growing legacy. On Tuesday, Taylor set a new national record of 48.51 seconds in the 100m freestyle, earning the Bahamas its first-ever swimming medal at the Junior Pan American Games. His silver in the 50m freestyle on Wednesday marks the country’s third medal of this year’s event and its fourth overall in the short history of the Games.
Also contributing to The Bahamas’ success in Paraguay, 19-year-old judoka Xavion Johnson made history on Sunday by winning the nation’s first-ever judo medal, a bronze in the men’s 66 kg division. At the inaugural Games in 2021, high jumper Kyle Alcine claimed bronze with a leap of 2.19 m in Cali, Colombia.
In other swimming action on Wednesday, Marvin Johnson tied for first in the ‘B’ final of the men’s 50m freestyle with Cristian Ramos of the Dominican Republic, both finishing in 23.05 seconds. Johnson had earlier placed third in his heat and advanced 10th overall. Zoe Williamson competed in the women’s 50m freestyle, finishing seventh in her heat and 20th overall with a time of 27.56 seconds.
This year, The Bahamas is fielding 15 athletes across six sports—aquatics, archery, judo, cycling, athletics, and sailing—competing among hundreds of athletes from 41 nations in 28 disciplines. Sailing will begin later this week, with athletics starting next week, before the Games conclude on Saturday, August 23.
