Henderson swimmer Lamar Taylor wins Heat, but doesn’t advance, at 2024 Paris Olympic Games

HSU Sports Network

PARIS, France — The Henderson State Red Wave’s Lamar Taylor made history Tuesday morning when became the program’s first-ever athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. Representing the Bahamian national team, Taylor made both HSU and his country proud.

Competing in the 100-meter freestyle event at Paris La Defense Arena in Paris, France, Taylor won Heat 5 with a final time of 48.84 seconds. In doing so, the Freeport native broke his own Bahamian national record for the event (49.33 seconds).

Overall, Taylor finished 26th out of 79 competitors, missing out on a semifinal qualifying spot by less than half of one second. Since the heat, Taylor has received praise for his performance from fans in both the Bahamas and the United States.

Taylor is the lone representative of the Bahamian men’s swimming team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In addition to his national record for the 100-meter freestyle, he holds Bahamian records in the 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke, and 100-meter backstroke events.

A six-time NCAA Division II National Champion at Henderson State, Taylor helped lead the Red Wave to its first New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference (NSISC) Championship since the 2004-05 season earlier this year. Career honors include NCAA Division II Male Swimmer of the Year, NSISC Male Swimmer of the Year (twice), Great American Conference Male Athlete of the Year, and the Redspy for HSU Male Athlete of the Year.