Sara MacKay keeps giving back to sports in the Cayman Islands.
MacKay raised an Olympian who has competed for Cayman in swimming at all levels. But MacKay readily admits that she had no idea her son Andrew was going to be a swimmer, let alone represent Cayman at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
MacKay, who has an ability to inspire others to do their best and get involved, started doing “game reports” for exposure, to help to raise funds to build Cayman Little League’s Field of Dreams. She then put her public relations talents to work on Cayman swimming.
Currently, she helps by working the finish line of sea swims, is back on the Cayman Islands Little League Association board, and is on the executive board of a group that started a Young Men’s Christian Association in Cayman, which she is excited about because “it could be so good for these Islands.”
She takes no credit for her achievements, but rather says it is all a team effort.
“Giving back to sport and helping youngsters is the truest way of expressing love of a sport,” MacKay said. “Plus, parents are busy, have so many demands. If I can help a little, hurray!”
She was president of the Stingray Swim Club for a year and secretary for six years. In addition, she was the first recipient of Little League’s George Rivers Award. This willingness to give of herself is one of the reasons MacKay was selected by the Department of Sports Women’s Coordinator Merta Day as one of the women to be celebrated for 2014 Honoring Women Month.
“Like many mothers, Sara became involved in sports because of her son,” Day said. “But her passion and dedication have contributed to the development of Little League and Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association. Of course, the Herculean effort it takes to raise a child to the level of competing in the Olympics shows not just personal commitment, but the overall development of sports on these islands.”
Her story started off in the typical way, of a mother supporting her child. One Saturday morning, she took young Andrew to a football match when he was in kindergarten. The coach, Peter Anderson, gave Andrew a few minutes of playing time and Andrew played “like a demon.” A year later, he started Little League and the MacKays got involved because they believed in the program.
“The start of Little League was such a coming together of the entire community; it was fun and deserved support,” MacKay said. “There were so many good people to get to know and work with: JC Calhoun, the Tottens, Hartmanns, Cribbs and so many others.”
After years of exposing him to as many sports as possible, Andrew got into competitive swimming and that, surprisingly, became his first choice. He did not want to miss training and set himself a goal to make the 1997 CARIFTA team at age 11. Andrew placed last or nearly last and was disqualified in a relay. But, as MacKay recalls, he came home fired up to improve.
“I always credit Dave Kelsheimer’s coaching,” MacKay said. “Dave got into Andrew’s head, had a vision for the future and a road map in his head to get kids there. Education and the Olympics were his main goals.”
At the 1998 CARIFTA Games in Guadeloupe, Andrew earned three gold medals: a silver and a bronze and gold for the 11-12 Boy’s High Point Award. Many competitions later, including the Island Games, Pan Ams, World Championships and Commonwealth Games, Andrew became the first swimmer to make an Olympic qualifying time at CARIFTA 2003; much to the delight of his mom.
“What a wonderful journey that was. Swimming is such an amazing, rewarding sport, with all the measurable results – setting goals and knocking them off one at a time.”
But that is Andrew’s story. His mother was typical of her time during the 1950s. She grew up playing recreational and school sports in suburban Buffalo, New York. Back then, sports for girls were not all that important. They were relegated to playing “Kick the Can” and kickball. Although she came from a hockey-loving family, there was none for girls. In college, she took up skydiving.
“Skydiving won my heart and imagination and soon became a focal point of my life and social life for 10 years,” she said.
She moved to Atlanta, Georgia, after graduation, attracted by a good drop zone. She moved to Florida, for better skydiving and a job, and soon met her husband Peter, a rugby player on tour at the time. That was the opening act, because after getting married, she moved to Cayman and had Andrew. And the rest is history.
Her message to parents is “get involved, sport is good fun for everyone.” She proves this because she is still involved in sports, despite her son being all grown up.
