Dr Alia Atkinson - Jamaica’s most decorated swimmer, receives honorary doctorate

Olympian Alia Atkinson can now add honorary doctorate to her many achievements throughout her career.

The 32-year-old swimmer was honoured with a Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of The West Indies at its graduation ceremony on Thursday.

Atkinson said this was an achievement she did not expect.

"Such a thrilling career this has turned out to be," she posted on Instagram after the ceremony. "So many accolades I never expected in this life; and it was all because I did a sport I loved while doing it to the best of my God given ability. Perseverance is [key].

"Thank you to the University of West Indies for this superlative honorary degree."

Atkinson also thanked Dr Livingston White, who delivered her biography.

"Her passion, swimming, may not be a well-supported or popular sport, especially in the track and field kingdom of Jamaica, but Atkinson's achievement is improving its profile," White said in his speech. "Her strokes continue to inspire swimmers of colour from minority regions in swimming, not only in the Caribbean, but as far as the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific Islands.

"Chancellor, I invite you, on behalf of the Senate and the council of the University of the West Indies, to confer upon Alia Shanee Atkinson, five-time Olympian, two-time Olympic finalist, record-breaking breaststroke specialist, first black woman in history to win a world record title in swimming, the degree of Doctor of Laws."

Atkinson previously received an Order of Distinction, Commander Class, from the Government in 2018.

Atkinson, who competed in her fifth straight Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer, became the first black woman to win a world title when she took gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2014 World Short Course Championships, and further carved her name in history by breaking the world record in the 50m short course breaststroke in 2016 and 2018, and tying the 100m short course breaststroke world record in 2014.

After competing in Tokyo, she announced that the likelihood of her competing next year is very slim as she now turns her focus to continuing her charity efforts across the globe said and she will be focusing on building out her line of children's books, among other ventures.