In this July 21, 2016 photo, teens dive into the pool during a lesson at a private pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - It's been nearly 90 years since Haiti earned a medal at the Olympic Games. But swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil is aiming to break that dry spell.
The lanky 25-year-old swimmer who only began to swim competitively six years ago is arguably the most unlikely Olympian on Haiti's small team. But he doesn't lack for confidence.
"I will be giving all my effort to make sure I bring back a medal for my homeland," Dorsainvil said after a recent day of training.
The swimmer, who has never lived abroad - unlike many athletes who typically represent the impoverished Caribbean country - trains in an 18-meter long pool. An Olympic-sized pool is 50 meters.
"I have to do six laps just to make 100 meters. I go back and forth, back and forth," he laughed during a phone interview from the pool in Carrefour on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim.
Dorsainvil is hoping to change all that.
He says he's hopeful that the sport will take off in his Caribbean homeland if he and his teammate, 19-year-old Haitian-American Naomy Grand'Pierre, are able to win a medal. Grand'Pierre is a student at the University of Chicago and will be Haiti's first Olympic female swimmer.
"I hope we can help make swimming popular here. It's disappointing that so many Haitian people are not able to swim," Dorsainvil said.
In this July 21, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil readies for a day of training in preparation for the Rio Summer Olympic Games, at a private swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. The lanky 25-year-old swimmer who only began to swim competitively six years ago is aiming to win a medal in the Rio Olympics. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
This July 30, 2016 photo, shows Haiti's only 50 meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour. The derelict Olympic size swimming pool has been out of commission since 1990. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 21, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil stretches before swimming laps a private swimming pool, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Itâs been nearly 90 years since Haiti earned a medal at the Olympic Games. But Dorsainvil is aiming to break that dry spell. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 22, 2016 photo, children mimic their swimming stroke form during a swim class at a private pool, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Hatian swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil who only began to swim competitively six years ago is arguably the most unlikely Olympian on Haitiâs small team. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 21, 2016 photo, teens dive into the pool during a lesson at a private pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 22, 2016 photo, swimming coach Pyram Jean Faveurdieu gives instruction during a swim lesson, at a private 18-meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Swimming barely exists as a sport in Haiti, where there are few pools. Many Haitians, even some who fish for a living, never learn how to swim. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 22, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil takes a breath during training in preparation for the Rio Summer Olympic Games, at a private swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. The swimmer, who has never lived abroad, unlike many athletes who typically represent the impoverished Caribbean country, trains in an 18-meter pool. An Olympic-sized pool is 50 meters. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 21, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil arrives to train in preparation for the Rio Summer Olympic Games, at a private 18-meter swimming pool in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. âI will be giving all my effort to make sure I bring back a medal for my homeland,â Dorsainvil said. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press
In this July 30, 2016 photo, Haitian Olympic swimmer Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil folds a Haitian national flag to take with him as he packs for his trip to Rio de Janeiro, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood Carrefour, Haiti. Dorsainvil says heâs hopeful that the sport will take off in his Caribbean homeland if he and his teammate, 19-year-old Haitian-American Naomy GrandâPierre, are able to win a medal. GrandâPierre is a student at the University of Chicago and will be Haitiâs first Olympic female swimmer. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
The Associated Press