Generations at the Pool: The Barrowman father-daughter duo come together from the Cayman Islands to Doha
By Meg Keller-Marvin
Shared from and Written by Tatsuo Ogura, World Aquatics Correspondent
Mike Barrowman, Olympic gold medallist and former world record holder in the men’s 200m breaststroke, stood on the pool deck of the World Aquatics Championships in Doha. It was a mixture of familiar yet strange moments for him, being around the water and other swimmers, with memories of his past achievements echoing in his mind.
This time, however, he isn’t here to compete, but to support three swimmers from the Cayman Islands, including his own daughter, Harper Barrowman, along with James Richard Allison and Jillian Janis Geohagan Crooks on the squad.
“Thirty-two years,” he reflected, coming back to the world stage and looking around at how much the landscape of swimming has changed. “It’s quite a challenge to see how things have changed. But at the core, it’s still 50 meters of water, still wet. It’s different, yet familiar. It’s nice to be here.”
Barrowman Senior is recognised as one of the all-time legends of the sport. He broke the 200m breaststroke world record six times over eleven years during a remarkable winning streak where he took 15 of 16 major national and international titles. The last time he competed in the world championships was 33 years ago in Perth, Australia.
His final Olympic appearance was in Barcelona in 1992, where he held onto his world record for a decade until Japanese swimming legend Kosuke Kitajima broke it in 2002 in Busan. Since then, his journey led him to coach at the University of Michigan for a few years before he left the world of swimming and settled in the beautiful Cayman Islands with his family. Being at the world championships as a team official was a new role for him, one that he embraced with a mix of nostalgia and pride.
Here is a question, however, “Why is he coming back?”
“I was the last guy in line,” he explained. “We had our national championships at the same time and they needed somebody to fill the role. So they asked, ‘Can you do it?’”
Harper, his daughter, had already made her mark in the swimming world during the previous summer in Fukuoka. This is her second appearance at the world championships here in Doha. For her, competing on the world stage alongside her idols was a dream come true. But having her parents by her side this time made the experience even more special.
“To have your parents here, it really shows the support, and I really like that,” Harper explained, her eyes shining with pride and joy she felt in her father’s return to the swimming realm. “With everything he did, he’s left the swimming world behind. So to have him come back into that role for me, that’s really special to see.”
Growing up, Harper had heard countless stories and watched old video footage of her father’s legendary performances. Mike Barrowman is not just a swimming icon; he is her father, her mentor, her inspiration. His experience and wisdom are invaluable assets not only to her but to the entire Cayman Islands national team too.
As Harper prepared to dive into the same waters at the world championships where her father had once excelled at the world championships, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of connection and reverence. “Every time it’s incredible to be able to stand up in front of the pool and think that this is exactly what he did, thinking and feeling the same things that he did,” she remarked. “It’s really something special to be able to participate in the same thing that he did.”
With Mike’s presence, the Cayman Islands national team had their sights set on history-making moments. Jordan Crooks, Jillian’s older brother and a contender in the men’s sprint, carried the hopes of a nation eager for Olympic glory. The chance of winning the first-ever Olympic medal for the Cayman Islands in Paris is getting closer, highlighting the dedication and passion of the athletes.
“My days in swimming are limited,” said Barrowman senior when asked if he would be seen on the pool deck more often. “I enjoy watching my daughter swim, but it’s not something I’m ready to get back into.”
As the championships progressed in Doha, father and daughter shared moments of pride, excitement, and anticipation. The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear—they are united in their love for swimming and their determination to pursue their dreams, wherever they may lead.
