LANI CABRERA
Lani got started in swimming in 1996 after she was encouraged by her parents. Lani’s first year on a national team was when she attending CARIFTA in 2006 on home soil in Barbados, where she was a distance finalist. In 2011 she attended Pan American Games in Mexico where she also completed in the distance freestyle events. Her international swimming career also includes participation at the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 World Championships and 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2016 at CISC in Bahamas Lani won the silver medal in the 400m Free and the bronze medal in the 800m Free.
“Growing up pursuing a sport as well doing school is very challenging, and plenty times I thought about giving up because of how difficult it got. I never took a break from swimming but I went through a phase where my times were off for a year or so, but I just stuck with it. My parents and siblings, coaches, teammates and food motivate me most! Swimming and traveling the world and getting to meet new people makes me love the sport even more. Constantly striving to be better than I was yesterday makes me feel great about myself. Continuing swimming gave me the chance to pursue my swimming career and academics overseas, and gave me the chance to meet all kinds of people,and everyday I came face to face with new opportunities. Getting this far has been extremely difficult and so many times I got upset about having to miss out on a family member’s birthday or a friend’s party, but reaching my lifelong dream of the Olympics made all the sweat, tears and difficult practices worth it! I never once gave up on my dream and I never once doubted myself, and all the sacrifices paid off.”
Lani will compete in the 400m Freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games.