The McGill University women’s swimming and diving program has secured a significant talent for their 2026 entry class, announcing the signing of Bermudian standout Marleigh Howes.
Howes will arrive in Montreal with a reputation as one of the most clinical sprinters in the Caribbean region. In an official welcome on social media, the McGill coaching staff expressed their excitement for the new recruit, stating: "Marleigh is a sprint butterfly and freestyle specialist who will join the team all the way from Warwick, Bermuda! Looking forward to having you as a new Martlet soon."
Howes’ commitment to the Martlets follows a historic 2025 campaign that firmly established her as a premier name in Bermudian swimming. Just last month, the 17-year-old shattered a 42-year-old age-group record in the 200m butterfly at the BASA Winter Age Group Championships. Clocking a time of 2:26.89, she eclipsed the previous short-course benchmark set by Mary Mowbray in 1983.
The achievement was the culmination of a year defined by elite consistency. In June 2025, Howes was crowned the Senior National Champion at the Ascot Bermuda National Swimming Championships, following a season where she dominated the domestic freestyle circuit and demonstrated her tactical growth in the butterfly disciplines.
Howes is no stranger to the high-pressure environment of representative sport. A veteran of the CARIFTA Swimming Championships, she has been a frequent podium finisher for the Gombey Warriors. Her breakout performance came at the 2023 Games in Curaçao, where she secured two silver medals in the 100m backstroke and the 200m Freestyle, alongside a Relay Bronze.
Her development has been further sharpened at the world-renowned Bolles School in Florida, where she helped her team secure the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship title. During her time in the United States, she consistently clocked top-tier times, including a 52.02-second finish in the 100-yard freestyle that helped Bolles dominate the Florida state rankings.
At McGill, Howes is expected to bolster a Martlets squad that has traditionally excelled in the RSEQ conference. Her versatility across freestyle and butterfly will be a vital asset in dual meet scoring and relay depth.
For Howes, the move to Canada represents the next step toward a loftier goal. Speaking after her record-breaking swim in December, she signaled her intent to follow in the footsteps of Bermudian Olympians like Emma Harvey. With her commitment to the Martlets now official, the Warwick Academy product joins a growing list of Bermudians making their mark in the Canadian collegiate system.
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