Aug 3, 2016

It’s been nearly 90 years since Haiti earned a medal at the Olympic Games. But Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvi is aiming to break that dry spell. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim.

: In this July 22, 2016 photo, children mimic their swimming stroke form during a swim class at a private pool, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 22, 2016 photo, swimming coach Pyram Jean Faveurdieu gives instruction during a swim lesson, at a private 18-meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: This July 30, 2016 photo, shows Haiti’s only 50 meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour. The derelict Olympic size swimming pool has been out of commission since 1990. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 21, 2016 photo, a teen surfaces after diving into the pool during a lesson at a private pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Even though Haiti is located in the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, very few Haitians learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 21, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil stretches before swimming laps a private swimming pool, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. It’s been nearly 90 years since Haiti earned a medal at the Olympic Games. But Dorsainvil is aiming to break that dry spell. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 21, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil arrives to train in preparation for the Rio Summer Olympic Games, at a private 18-meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. “I will be giving all my effort to make sure I bring back a medal for my homeland,” Dorsainvil said. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 22, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil takes a breath during training in preparation for the Rio Summer Olympic Games, at a private swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. The swimmer, who has never lived abroad, unlike many athletes who typically represent the impoverished Caribbean country, trains in an 18-meter pool. An Olympic-sized pool is 50 meters. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 30, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil folds a Haitian national flag to take with him as he packs for his trip to Rio de Janeiro, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Dorsainvil says he’s hopeful that the sport will take off in his Caribbean homeland if he and his teammate, 19-year-old Haitian-American Naomy Grand’Pierre, are able to win a medal. Grand’Pierre is a student at the University of Chicago and will be Haiti’s first Olympic female swimmer. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 21, 2016 photo, teens dive into the pool during a lesson at a private pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

: In this July 22, 2016 photo, swimming coach Pyram Jean Faveurdieu gives instruction during a swim lesson, at a private 18-meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Haitian swimmer hopes to end country’s dry spell at Rio 2016 Olympics

Leave a Reply Cancel