Report: Jordan Crooks Set to Return to Swimming
Cayman Islands sprinter Jordan Crooks is ready to return to swimming, per a report from the Islands on Wednesday.
Cayman Islands Minister of Sports Isaac Rankine made the announcement at a parliamentary meeting Tuesday night heralding Crooks’ “return … to international competitive swimming.”
“Jordan has shared how grateful he is to have had the opportunity over the past few months to complete his studies and plan for his future. He is excited to return to swimming at a professional level and represent the Cayman Islands,” Rankine said.
Crooks has yet to confirm that decision publicly. He has long been the standard bearer for the country’s program and for Caribbean swimming at large.
Crooks announced in May 2025 that he was “stepping away from competing,” but he stopped short of announcing a retirement. It left open the possibility of him returning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Crooks has competed in just one Olympics – his sister, Jillian Crooks, competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but he lost out on Cayman’s universality spot to veteran Brett Fraser. In Paris three years later, he made the final of the 50 free in eighth place and also finished 13th in the 100 free.
He won gold medals in the men’s 50 freestyle at the World Aquatics Short-Course Championships in 2022 and 2024, with a bronze in the 100 free at the latter. He was the first man to break 20 seconds over 50 meters of short-course freestyle, holding the world record at 19.90 seconds.
He assembled a decorated NCAA career at Tennessee, where he became the second man in history to break 18 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and breaking Caeleb Dressel’s NCAA record in the 100 free. He was a 25-time All-American with the Volunteers, winning the 50 free championship twice to go with a pair of NCAA relay gold medals and 11 SEC Championships.
“I’m sure that I speak for all of us when I say: Welcome back, Jordan, and we are certainly looking forward to watching you as you journey to Los Angeles 2028,” Rankine said.
