Beyond the Laps: Building futures at Mantaray Community Swim Club

13-year-old Rochard John catches his breath during an April 4, 2026 polo practice at the Diego Martin Community Pool.

Written by: JOEY BARTLETT

On any given weekend at the Diego Martin Community Pool, the rhythm is unmistakable. Splashes echo sharply off tiled walls as swimmers cut through the water in steady laps. Along the poolside, young athletes practise their routines, learning discipline, focus and technique with every stroke.

Cutting through it all is the firm voice of head coach Johnann Jerry-Lovell, her voice rising above the noise alongside her team, urging, correcting, encouraging. But beneath the movement and sound, something quieter and far more powerful is taking shape.

Futures are being built here.

For Jerry-Lovell, that has always been the mission.

“We set out to change lives… this is what we’ve actually done,” she said during an interview at the pool.

Coach Johnann Jerry-Lovell, in white, with members of the team following a swim meet.

She leads the Mantaray Community Swim Club, a grassroots, community-driven programme that has been reshaping the lives of children and families across Diego Martin and surrounding communities since 2009. What began as a modest initiative to teach basic swimming has evolved into a multidisciplinary club offering competitive swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, diving and open water training.

Yet for those involved, success is not measured in medals or podium finishes.

On deck, Jerry-Lovell is constantly in motion, correcting technique, calling instructions, and monitoring every swimmer in the water alongside her coaching team. But her impact, she says, extends far beyond the pool.

In the lanes during the interview were children from all walks of life: first-time swimmers overcoming fear, others navigating difficult environments, and athletes with special needs pushing beyond perceived limitations.

Jerry-Lovell, who also coaches within the Special Olympics programme, said showing up is already a victory.

“To see them (members) achieve something they never thought they could do, that’s everything. That’s why we do this,” she said.

A former special needs swimmer (in red) shares a moment with members of the team’s special needs group.

The club draws most of its membership from underserved and at-risk communities in Diego Martin and surrounding areas. For many of these children, the pool represents far more than recreation; it provides structure, safety, and the chance to imagine a future beyond their circumstances.

“We are not just a swim club; we are a community family,” she said.

That sense of family is intentional. Training sessions are designed not only to build physical ability but also discipline, confidence and respect. Parents are encouraged to be involved, creating a support system that extends beyond the pool deck.

“It’s about development, discipline, consistency, confidence. These are life skills,” she said.

Structured training, she explained, helps swimmers develop proper technique while improving strength, endurance and coordination. It also builds accountability and commitment, qualities that carry into everyday life.

“If you want to become something, you need structure,” she said.

Among the many stories that define the club, one stands out.

Jerry-Lovell recalls a teen who joined the programme struggling with behavioural issues and negative influences in his community. At the time, she described him as “completely out of control".

Through consistent training, mentorship and firm guidance, he began to change. Swimming gave him focus, discipline and direction. Over time, the transformation became undeniable.

“His mother called me crying. She told me, ‘Thank you, you saved my son’s life.'

Today, that teen is no longer part of the environment that once threatened to define him. Jerry-Lovell believes this is proof of what is possible when opportunity meets guidance and why swimming programmes must be expanded in schools and communities.

Stories like this are not isolated; they reflect the club’s wider ethos. At Manta Ray, inclusion is not a concept but daily practice.

Children with autism, ADHD and other developmental challenges train alongside their peers. Special Olympics athletes share space with competitive swimmers. Beginners learn in the same environment as national-level athletes.

The result is a culture where difference is normalised and potential is nurtured at every level. The guiding belief is simple: everyone deserves a chance.

And that belief is producing results.

Coach Akeem Valentine and Christopher Dash share a proud moment as they pose with the club’s water polo team. Front row, center, is the team’s youngest member, seven-year-old Armani Dash (in a purple tee), who has already competed in two National Primary Schools water polo tournaments, one Amateur Swimming Association o (ASATT) invitational, and beach water polo tournament.

Among its achievements are national-level competitors, international participation in water polo, and milestones such as being one of the youngest athletes to compete at a national level. Jerry-Lovell herself has also advanced her coaching credentials, recently completing World Aquatics age-group certification in Budapest.

Still, she insists accolades are secondary.

“What matters most is the growth we see in these children,” she said.

Despite its impact, the club continues to face challenges. Funding remains limited, relying on donations, fundraising and occasional corporate support. Fees are kept deliberately low to ensure access, but this creates financial pressure.

Transportation is another major hurdle. Travelling to competitions, particularly at venues like the National Aquatic Centre, often requires coordination among families who do not have reliable access to vehicles.

The team’s artistic swimmers, commonly known as synchronized swimmers, pose with another team at a swim meet.

“We have one car. Not all parents can manage,” she said.

Jerry-Lovell believes stronger partnerships with corporate Trinidad and local authorities could make a meaningful difference. Even modest support, she said, could ease the burden.

“A bus, a maxi, something to help move the children, that would change everything,” she said.

Broader systemic challenges also remain, including delays in reintroducing swimming programmes in schools due to policy and administrative barriers. Still, she remains determined.

“We will continue to push."

Support, she emphasised, does not have to come only from institutions.

“The community can support us by coming, by seeing what we do. Bring your children. Let them experience something positive.”

She envisions a wider network of schools, youth groups and community organisations working together to ensure every child has access to water safety and structured sport.

Among the swimmers on deck that day is nine-year-old Armani Dash, one of the club’s youngest members. Between drills, he pauses to share his thoughts.

“It’s nice,” he said, smiling.

He has been in the water since the age of three, growing in confidence with each session. Asked what advice he would give other children afraid to try, he is clear.

“Try it. Never be frightened.”

It is a simple message, but one that captures the spirit of the club.

Looking ahead, Manta Ray’s vision extends beyond the Diego Martin pool. Plans are in place for a dedicated facility that can support growing membership and expanded programmes, including learn-to-swim initiatives for children, adults and organisations.

The goal is sustainability.

“We want to keep building stronger and stronger, with more achievements and more opportunities,” Jerry-Lovell said.

But even as the club looks to the future, its purpose remains rooted in the present. It is about children finding confidence where there was once fear, families finding support in their struggles, and a community refusing to let circumstance define its future.

At Manta Ray, that transformation continues every day, one lap, one