With the arrival of 2026 comes a renewed sense of purpose as athletes and coaches across the Cayman Islands turn the page to a fresh chapter of competition.
For many, a new year is more than just a date on the calendar – it is a launchpad for new goals and higher aspirations.
Julius Smith, Special Olympics Cayman Islands
Julius Smith, Special Olympian multi-medallist and athlete representative on the Special Olympics committee board, says, “My new year resolution for Special Olympics Cayman Islands is to see my fellow athletes and I hit the ground running and get back into sports now that our break is over.
“Personally, I want to progress both as an athlete and as an athlete representative by being more vocal and active in spreading the news about our programmes. I am also aiming to choose one specific sport to commit to – be it athletics, paddle boarding, kayaking or swimming – and I am working on making my work schedule flexible so I can finally get back on the track as soon as possible.”
Joshaela Burke, swimming and netball
“As a student-athlete at Layman E. Scott High School in Cayman Brac and a member of both the Sister Islands Swim Club and the Cayman Islands Netball Association Under-16 Development Team, I am heading into this year with a clear vision for my growth”, says Joshaela Burke.
“In the pool, I am dedicated to dropping my times across all events at different swim meets, as well as refining my stroke technique under my coach’s guidance.
“On the netball court, I mostly play wing attack, wing defence and centre, and I am pushing myself to become more comfortable at playing multiple positions, while also prioritising strength training with support from my coaches. Above all, my main resolution is to continue having fun in both sports.”
Michael Johnson, football
Michael Johnson, head coach for the Cayman Islands Senior Women Team, has personal and team resolutions for both the senior and Under-17 Girls National Football Team, which he says he will be leading this year.
As both age groups compete this year in the World Cup Qualifying CONCACAF Championships, he says, “We have team resolutions to become a stronger unit, which will enable us to compete at the highest level of the sport in our region.”
Elaborating on how they will achieve this, Johnson says, “Both teams are working to become physically stronger and fitter to enable us to compete for longer periods throughout matches. They are also working on becoming better tactically as a group, which gives a better platform to problem solve during the match and become a harder team to beat.”
Individually, as a coach, he says his resolution is to continue to grow and improve his knowledge, patience and mentorship to better prepare the players to compete in these upcoming games and prepare them for the next chapters in their careers.
Joshua O’Garro, basketball
Since last August, Caymanian basketballer Joshua O’Garro has served as a guard for Cal State University Northridge.
He says, “This year, I just want to have a better season than I did last year with points, rebounds and assists, and set myself up for my first year pro. Also, I want to win all league recognition for the conference I play in.”
Peter Edwards, basketball
Peter Edwards, a professional basketballer in Lithuania, says he is fully committed to elevating his game and professional standards this year.
“On the court, my focus is on maintaining high-level consistency every single game regardless of my time on the court, while sharpening my efficiency through smarter shot selection, better free-throw shooting, and locked-in defence. I aim to be a true professional leader who masters our systems and earns the unwavering trust of my coaches and teammates,” he says.
Off the court, his focus is on prioritising strength, recovery, mobility and clean nutrition, even during the grind of travel.
“Living overseas, I aim to make it a point to learn the language and respect the local culture in Lithuania, while representing my family and myself with pride. Mentally, my goal is to stay committed to controlling what I can – specifically my effort, attitude, and preparation – as I navigate this season.”
Edwards says his focus is on staying “locked in” and maintaining consistency in both his health and personal growth to ensure he’s ready when a higher-level contract opportunity arises.
“While I remain hungry for that next step, I am practising patience and making a conscious effort to let my gratitude outweigh any frustrations, both on and off the court. By staying disciplined all year, I hope to put myself in the best possible position to land a strong contract at the end of the season,” he adds.
Davontè Howell, athletics
Davontè Howell, Junior Pan American 100m record holder, has big aspirations this year, including the desire to break more records.
“This year, I would really like to break my personal 100m record of 9.98 seconds secured at the Junior Pan American Games last August; hopefully, claiming the Cayman 100m national record. Also, I’d like to gain NCAA First Team All-American in all events I participate in again this year, to medal at Nationals and to add the 200m to my event list.”
Karthik Adapa, gymnastics
Gymnast Karthik Adapa, Cayman’s most decorated athlete for the Orkney 2025 International Island Games, says he hopes to keep his head in the books this year, ensuring he is on top of his studies.
“Obviously as I am an athlete, I want to make sure that I am staying healthy, staying safe, especially after coming off of an injury, and eating better. I am cooking for myself at university, so I want to get better at cooking [this year also],” he says.
Adapa says he also wants to stay in touch with his family a little more this year.
Sierrah Broadbelt, swimming
Swimmer and CARIFTA multi-medallist Sierrah Broadbelt says, “Going into the new year, my main focus is staying consistent and healthy throughout the entire season. I want to trust the process, enjoy the ups and downs and always remember why I love the sport.
“Performance wise, I’m aiming to lower my personal bests across my key events through the rest of the season. Outside of the pool, I also want to read more this year, to keep learning, growing and finding balance away from training.”
Julian Jervis, squash
Julian Jervis, assistant junior national squash coach, says he is fully aligned with the Cayman Islands National Squash Association’s 2026 resolution of being more accessible to all, especially Caymanian youth.
“We hope to grow the numbers of juniors playing to increase motivation and enjoyment for all involved,” he says. “We also aim to refine and advance our training schedules and programmes to stay competitive with the global elite.
“As a player of the sport, my resolutions for the year are to optimise every minute I spend training, so that I get the most out of what time I have to prioritise it, as well as to regain the fitness and form I had in 2022 and 2023.”
Additional reporting by Seaford Russell Jr.
This article is the first of a two-part feature.
