12/04/2026
🐬 ARUBA DOLPHINS AT CARIFTA 2026 🐬
39th CARIFTA Aquatics Championships • Martinique • April 4–8, 2026
Four Aruba Dolphins athletes competed against 500+ elite youth swimmers from 24 Caribbean nations at the Pierre Samot Aquatic Centre in Martinique. They represented our island with pride, heart, and some outstanding performances. Here is how they did! 🇦🇼
🐬 Jaythan Winterdal
Our top scorer and standout performer of the meet! Jaythan had an incredible championship — medaling in multiple individual events and playing a key role in two relay podiums. Apart from that he also participated in the 5km openwater with great results.
Event
Time
Place
1500m Free (13-17)
18:17.92
6th Place
200m Free
2:02.22
3rd 🥉 (Final)
400m Free
4:21.41
3rd 🥉
100m Free
55.62
2nd 🥈 (Final)
50m Free
26.14
6th (Final)
400m Free Relay
3:53.39
2nd 🥈
800m Free Relay
8:35.73
1st 🥇
400m Medley Relay
4:28.27
4th
200m Free Relay
1:45.52
4th
🏆 1 Gold • 2 Silver • 2 Bronze — Jaythan, you were absolutely on fire in Martinique!
🐬 Jayla Stuut
Jayla made it to multiple finals and delivered personal bests across the board. Her butterfly events were a highlight of the entire Dolphins campaign.
Event
Time
Place
100m Fly
1:07.67
4th (Final)
200m Fly
2:41.81
4th (Final)
50m Fly
29.40 🥉
5th (Qualified)
50m Back
33.31
12th
50m Free
28.81
9th
400m Free Relay
4:13.25
2nd 🥈
400m Medley Relay
5:06.98
7th
200m Free Relay
1:55.47
4th
✨ Three finals with medals at 13 years old — the future is so bright for Jayla!
🐬 Chloe-Nicole Dirksz
Chloe opened the entire championship in Event 1 and never looked back. A distance warrior who competed in 8 events across the week and gave everything for the team in the relay pool. Her 5km openwater was spectacular.
Event
Time
Place
800m Free (13-17)
10:25.27
9th
1500m Free (13-17)
20:07.86
7th
400m Free
5:01.62
9th
200m Free
2:22.87
14th
400m Free Relay
4:13.25
2nd 🥈
400m Medley Relay
5:06.98
7th
200m Free Relay
1:55.47
4th
💪 8 events, zero complaints — pure Dolphins spirit from Chloe!
🐬 Ayden Anthony
Ayden's story at CARIFTA 2026 is one of breakthroughs. He posted personal bests in almost every event he swam — highlighted by a jaw-dropping 32.96 second improvement in the 200m Breaststroke!
Event
Time
Place
200m Breast
2:55.54
12th (-32.96s PB!)
100m Breast
1:17.80
11th (-3.63s)
800m Free (13-17)
9:42.33
7th (-19.46s)
200m Free
2:14.10
17th
50m Free
27.12
17th
100m Free
1:00.66
19th
400m Free Relay
3:53.39
2nd 🥈
800m Free Relay
8:35.73
1st 🥇
400m Medley Relay
4:28.27
4th
200m Free Relay
1:45.52
4th
🚀 A 32-second drop! Ayden, CARIFTA 2026 was just the beginning for you!
Competing against the best junior swimmers in the Caribbean is no small thing. Jaythan, Jayla, Chloe, and Ayden, you trained hard, you represented Aruba with class, and you left the pool every time knowing you gave your all. That is what being a Aruba Dolphins is all about. 🏊 See you at the next one! 💙💛
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