Fiji Swimming is pleased to announce our participation at the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). The event runs from 8th – 16thDecember. This includes the competition racing days, the FINA Congress and Coaches Conference as well. The Championships is held in Hangzhou, China, and the team is made up of 4 swimmers and 1 Coach.
- Sharon Smith (Coach)
- Rosemary Rova (Coach)
- Epeli Rabua (Swimmer)
- Matelita Buadromo (Swimmer)
- Taichi Vakasama (Swimmer)
- Yolani Blake (Swimmer)
The team is accompanied by Fiji Swimming Executive, President Mr Ben Rova. Mr Rova is in Hangzhou to attend the Congress where all FINA member National Federations around the world are at one table and engage in discussions relating to FINAs current programs,and FINAs pipeline projects. Fiji Swimming at this table, is encouraging andinspiring. Being among regional delegates, and also high profile professionals from Swimming Power House Nations, opens up opportunities and pathways to create networks, partnerships and eventually, competition.
The FINA Coaches Conference was attended by Rosemary Rova & Sharon Smith – also there as the Head Coach for American Samoa swimmer training here in Fiji –Tilali Scanlan. The Conference included discussion forums with selected Coaches and Experts in the field. Head Coach Rosemary Rova & Sharon Smith return to Fiji with more detailed insight on what Swimming preparations and training is like, in different countries around the world.The Racing began on Dec 11th. The Fiji Swimming team has successfully completed 3 days of competition, with highlights including, but not limited to:
- Taichi Vakasama; 200 Breastroke – Seed Time: 1.02.11 – Final Time: 1.01.87. Taichi set anew PB, and new Open Record.
- Matelita Buadromo; 100 Freestyle – Seed Time: 57.53 – Final Time: 57.14. Matelita set a new PB – a good come back swim after recently returning from a shoulder injury
- Herbert Rabua; 50 Freestyle – Seed Time: 24.33 – Final Time: 23.84.
Epeli set a new PB and feels positive going into his next race.
With these Championships seeing Games and World Records being broken on the daily, the competition is elite level, World Class, and sees many countries, like ourselves, trying to gauge our performance in preparations for Tokyo 2020.
The medal tally sees the likes of Swimming Champions from around the world, including Kirill Prigoda (RUS), Chadle Clos (RSA), Ryan Murphy (USA), Daiyo Seto (JPN), to name a few. Our Fiji Swimmers are among the world’s elite swimmers, and are using this opportunity to better their world rankings, in light of Tokyo 2020, and closer to home, the 2019 Pacific Games next year.
3 more days of competition remain,and we look forward to providing more positive results, and seeing our Fiji Swimmers swim against Swimming’s World Champions. Go Fiji Go!
Story by: Fiji Swimming 14/12/2018