Jordan Crooks

Jordan Crooks
Personal information
National team Cayman Islands
Born (2002-05-02) May 2, 2002
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight89 kg (196 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, butterfly, Backstroke
ClubCayman Islands Swimming Federation, Camana Bay Aquatic Club (former), Cayman Stingray Swim Club (former)[1]
College teamUniversity of Tennessee[2]
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Cayman Islands
World Championships (SC)
2022 Melbourne 50 m freestyle
2024 Budapest 50 m freestyle
2024 Budapest 100 m freestyle
Island Games
2019 Gibraltar 100 m freestyle
2019 Gibraltar Mixed 4 × 50 m freestyle
2019 Gibraltar 50 m freestyle
2019 Gibraltar 50 m backstroke
2019 Gibraltar 100 m backstroke

Jordan Crooks (born 2 May 2002) is a Caymanian competitive swimmer who specialises in sprint freestyle events. He made history by winning the first medal of any colour—and the first gold medal—for the Cayman Islands at a world championships in any sport at the 2022 World Short Course Swimming Championships.[3]

Crooks is a multiple-time world champion and world record holder and holds numerous national records for the Cayman Islands. He is widely regarded as the most successful swimmer in the nation’s history.[4]

Career

Crooks qualified for the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest and the 2022 World Short Course Swimming Championships in Melbourne.[5]

At the 2022 short course world championships, he won the gold medal in the men’s 50 metre freestyle, defeating defending champion Ben Proud.[6]

At the 2024 World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Crooks successfully defended his world title in the 50 metre freestyle. In the semifinals, he set a new world record of 19.90 seconds, becoming the first swimmer to break the 20-second barrier in the event.[7]

Collegiate career

Crooks competes collegiately for the University of Tennessee. During his freshman season, he set school freshman records in the 50-yard freestyle (18.53 seconds) and the 100-yard freestyle (41.44 seconds).[8]

On 21 February 2024, Crooks became the second man in history to swim under 18 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle at the SEC Championships, setting a pool record at Auburn University’s James E. Martin Aquatics Center.[9]

Olympic career

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Crooks became the first Caymanian swimmer to qualify for an Olympic swimming final. He finished eighth in the men’s 50 metre freestyle final with a time of 21.64 seconds.[10]

Personal life

Crooks has a sister, Jillian Crooks, who also represents the Cayman Islands internationally in swimming.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Jordan Crooks". Swimcloud. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Jordan Crooks – Swimming & Diving". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. ^ de Villiers, Ockert (31 December 2022). "Jordan Crooks: from fisherman to history-making world champion". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  4. ^ Berkeley, Geoff (17 December 2022). "Crooks wins historic Cayman Islands gold at World Swimming Championships (25m)". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  5. ^ Russell, Seaford (23 June 2022). "Crooks siblings turn in records at World Championships". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. ^ "World Championships: GB's Ben Proud wins silver while Anna Hopkin takes bronze". BBC Sport. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Crooks shatters world record in men's 50m freestyle". World Aquatics. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Jordan Crooks". SwimSwam. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ^ Keith, Braden (16 February 2024). "Jordan Crooks Becomes Second Man Ever to Swim 17-Point in the 50 Yard Free". SwimSwam. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Paris 2024 Men's 50m Freestyle – Final Results". International Olympic Committee. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  11. ^ Russell Jr., Seaford (13 December 2022). "Crooks siblings setting records on world stage". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 7 March 2023.