While CARIFTA Head Coach Travano McPhee counts it as an honor to lead the nation’s swimmers at the premier regional championships, this year, he said, is particularly special.

His daughter, 11-year-old Isabella Munroe, made her CARIFTA debut as one of the youngest members of the team.

He said both of their selections – his as head coach and hers as a member of the 11–12 girls team – feels like a divine blessing as the team pursues its seventh straight CARIFTA championship.

In her first race on Saturday morning at the National Aquatic Centre in Trinidad and Tobago, Munroe grimaced from the pool deck as Isabella made her final turn in the 200 meter (M) breaststroke race without utilizing her underwater pull-out. However, her massive PR made up for that slip in judgment. In the final event later that night, Isabella, who was seeded fourth, shaved nearly 10 seconds off her preliminary time of 3:08.14, to secure the silver in a time of 2:58.82.

It was a proud moment indeed for the father/daughter duo.

“I just want her to give her best,” Munroe said. “But it’s really an honor. I feel very blessed to be able to coach my daughter.”

Munroe coaches Isabella year-round at his Mako Swim Club in Nassau. She made her first national team two years ago when she was selected to represent The Bahamas at Goodwill Games in Jamaica.

The qualifying age for CARIFTA is 11.

With her swimming career blossoming, Munroe expects his daughter to continue on her upward trajectory.

Munroe, who specialized in the breaststroke and butterfly, and has set collegiate breaststroke records, said it seems Isabella will take on the same path.

On Monday morning, she swam another personal best in the 11–12 girls 50M breaststroke. Watching from the sideline as she touched the wall in just over 37 seconds, Munroe pointed at his daughter and smiled. It was a triumphant moment as secured a spot in the in final as the top seeded competitor.

On Monday night, Isabella lined up in the final hoping to secure her first CARIFTA gold medal, and she did, dipping just below 37 seconds.

This time around, her father could not contain his joy.

“That was a special moment,” he said right after her gold medal win.

Munroe said while he cherishes the opportunity to coach his daughter, he treats her like any other swimmer.

“Obviously I want her to do very well, as I do for every other swimmer,” he said in interview ahead of her race.

“But, it’s very special. She’s doing an excellent job. She is one of the youngest swimmers on the team, in her first year on the team.”

Admitting that he is a little hard on her at times, Munroe said it’s only because he wants the best for his child.

However, he said at the end of the day, he wants her to enjoy her swimming career and the CARIFTA experience.

“I want her to have fun and enjoy this, because in no time it will be over,” he added.

“She will be 17-18, and it’ll all be over. She will swim in college, so I just want her to enjoy herself and take it all in, be a good teammate.”

But who’s the better swimmer?

Munroe said that’s a tough call.

“Thinking back to when I was 11, we were kind of the same,” he said.

“I was a breaststroker and a butterflier. She is following in my footsteps.”

When asked the same question, Isabella said jokingly said she is the better of the two, then added that it’s only because of her dad’s training.

Isabella is part of a 36-member CARIFTA team competing in Trinidad. Munroe said his daughter’s presence on the team does not distract him from giving full support to the entire squad.

 “I’m a very proud father and coach,” he said. “A very proud coach to all of our swimmers.”

The Bahamas swim team is poised to win its seventh consecutive CARIFTA championship.

Competition in the pool wraps up tonight.