Fiji Swimming recently had a team return from the FINA Worlds in Gwangju, Korea, and only yesterday a team of four swimmers and one Coach/Team Manager departed for Budapest to compete at the FINA World Juniors. Our Federation is proud to also announce that we have a team of two currently representing Fiji at the FINA World Masters Championships, in Gwangju.
After the FINA Worlds, featuring elites from around the globe compete in a high-intensity program of events, the games village and the competition venue transformed to host the FINA World Masters Championships. Elaijie Erasito and Terence Erasito departed Fiji on August 5th and joined more than 4,000 aquatic sport enthusiasts in the Korean city of Gwangju – the host city for the championships.
The championships feature swimming, diving, water polo, open water and artistic swimming. There are over 90 countries who will be competing in the same venue used by the elite FINA World Championships, and Fiji too is proudly represented.
The Masters championships attracts participants from FINA affiliated Federations competing in categories of 5 year brackets with the youngest age eligible being 25years. Elaijie Erasito is competing in the 25-29yrs age category, while Terence Erasito is competing in the 50-54yrs. In the 50m Butterfly, the oldest competitor was 94years old.
The Erasito duo have performed exceptionally well across their events, with two days of competition left to go. Elaijie competed in the 3km Open Water, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breastroke, and 50m Butterfly. Terence competed in the 3km, 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, and the 100 Freestyle.
Fiji has a long history of participants who have attended the FINA World Masters, and this certainly isn’t the first. This year as Terence competes at his 4 FINA World Masters, he competes in Gwangju this time and encourages more Fijians to pursue Masters swimming. “There are different options whether one wants to pursue it competitively, as a recreational activity, or even for rehabilitation.” Terence Erasito says. “With the high risk of injury from contact sports or aggravating old injuries with common land based physical activities, swimming is a viable option for all ages and it’s fun”, he added.
The games conclude on Sunday, August 18th, and the team return to Fiji and are determined to inspire Fijians to take interest and pursue Masters Swimming.