By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Former Sierra Dolphins swimmer Bunturabie Jalloh, OLY, on Monday 20th November 2023, donated assorted swimming equipment worth thousands of dollars to the Executive of Sierra Leone Aquatics.
Bunturabie Jalloh, Oly, who is the CEO of RB’s Swim School in Melbourne, Australia, (the first and only African to operate a swimming school in Australia) made the donation as a show of gratefulness to the Sierra Leone Aquatics Family in the hope that the swimmers will benefit a lot from the donation, improve on their talents so that they will be able to represent the country admirably as she had done.
“This is just to show my appreciation to the association for the role you have played over the years in promoting and showcasing my talent in swimming both in and out of Sierra Leone at the Swimming World Championships, Regional Competitions, Commonwealth Games and the biggest stage in the Olympics Games at Rio, Brazil in 2016.”
“I am where I am today because of you. Hopefully this is just the first of many good gestures from me to the Association,” stated Bunturabie Jalloh, who is currently living in Australia, in a WhatsApp Message sent to the President of Sierra Leone Aquatics, Mr. Mohamed Abdul Turay.
Responding via the same medium, Sierra Leone Aquatics President, Mr Mohamed Abdul Turay, expressed the association’s delight and appreciation to the former Sierra Dolphin, for her generous gesture towards the Aquatics Family taking into consideration the fact that swimming outfits are very expensive to purchase concluding that the items will be used for their intended purposes.
He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Bunturabie Jalloh, OLY for the good gesture, and cited that she is the first former swimmer in the Diaspora to make such kind of donation to the Association and encouraged the other swimmers in the Diaspora to follow suit so that the Aquatics Family of Sierra Leone can become more equipped to promote their athletes.
Madam Abie Russel, mother of the former Olympian swimmer while handing over the swimming equipment to the Secretary-General of the Association said that she always tells her daughter that she should always be grateful to the Aquatics Association and not to forget the root of her career.
The items donated are as follows
• Hand Paddles (10)
• Swimming Aids (4)
• Pool Buoys (5)
• Back Pack Swimming Aid (1 Set)
• Swimming Caps (20)
• Stretching Cords (4)
• Stretch Cords for Body (3)
• Back Pack for Training (2)
• Life Jacket (1 Set)
• Kickboards – (6)
• Swimming Vests – (7)
• Goggles 5 pairs