KIONE DE SHONG, one of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ upcoming swimmers is etching his name in the record books whenever he competes.
A member of the Black Sands Swim Squad, De Shong reset four records in the Boys 13 to 14 age group at the 2026 SVG Gallagher Swimming Championships held at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, Ratho Mill, from August 27 to 30.
Among them was his 1:06.81 in the 100 meters Breaststroke.
Whilst unofficial, that time ranks De Shong among his peers globally for 2026, adding to his exponential growth in the sport, especially the Breaststroke event.
As it stands, De Shong is only second to Shne Joachim, when it comes to consecutive medalling by Vincentian swimmers at the Carifta Aquatic Championships.
De Shong has medalled in three successive years, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
In 2024 at the championships in the Bahamas, De Shong was the lone Vincentian to get a podium finish, claiming bronze in the 100–m Breaststroke in the 11 to 12 age group.
He went on to earn the various colour medals when the championships were held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2025, securing gold in the 100-m Breaststroke; silver in the 50-m Breaststroke; and bronze in the 200-m Breaststroke.
Earlier this year in Martinique, De Shong again made his mark in the 13-14 age category securing two medals; silver in the 200-m Breaststroke, and bronze in the 50-m Breaststroke.
