A second dispute in national swimming has intensified scrutiny over decision-making within the Seychelles Aquatic Federation (SAF).
Stefano Palestrini, father of national swimmer Aaliyah Palestrini, has formally challenged the federation’s decision not to award his daughter the 2025 Best Senior Female Swimmer title. He said the evaluation appeared to rely mainly on FINA points, a system that measures how close a performance is to a world record.
Mr Palestrini argued that a single metric cannot reflect a full competitive season. He said consistency, international results, and performance across multiple events should be considered when deciding a national honour.
Mr Palestrini requested a full comparative breakdown of performances. He stated that available information does not show a clear and objective justification for excluding Aaliyah Palestrini from the title or the Top 10 Sportswomen of the Year list.
The representation also questioned the federation’s evaluation approach and warned the decision could create perceptions of subjectivity rather than merit-based assessment.
In addition, the letter raised concerns about information circulated on a platform called “Seychelles Swimming News”, which he said may influence public perception of athletes’ performances.
Mr Palestrini has urged the federation to review the decision, saying national awards set a precedent for transparency and fairness in sport.