‘Big fish’ in best shape

By FRANKLIN KOLMA
VETERAN Papua New Guinea swimmer Ryan Pini says he is in the best form of his life and confident of making the country proud in London.
It will be his last Olympics.
Pini, nicknamed “The Big Fish”, takes to the pool in London in 22 days to fly the national colours on the world stage.
In a press conference at Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby last Friday, Pini, 31, said: “I feel so proud to be representing PNG for my third Olympics.”
The country’s swimming icon who won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games assured the nation his Olympic swansong would be memorable.
But, he said, he would like nothing more than to end his glittering career in the Pacific Games to be held on home ground in 2015.
“Papua New Guineans have only seen me swimming on TV, and I see the opportunity to swim on home ground as something that I won’t miss.”
Pini started his lead-up preparations for the Olympics last November when he competed in the World Cup series in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo, completing 26 races in six days.
“It was very tough but a great way to give myself racing experience,” he said.
In December, Pini raced in the Queensland Championships, where he did exceptionally well.
In January, he took part in the Victorian championships, followed by the New South Wales championships; both at which Ryan bagged personal best times and PNG national records.
Pini competed in the Australian championships in March as a qualifier for the Olympics and swam two B qualifying times in the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly, securing his Olympic place.
“The final competition I aimed for was the Oceania championships, where I won a medal in every event I swam in,” Ryan said proudly.
He won gold in the 50m butterfly, silver in the 50m backstroke and bronzes from the 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle.
Following the Oceania championships, Pini went to China for an altitude training camp to cap off his fitness and performance.
Pini said American Michael Phelps, winner of 14 Olympic gold medals in two Games and Australia’s Christopher Ryde would be the men to beat in the pool.
He is happy with his preparations, saying: “I am able to push myself harder and faster than I’ve ever been able to, the fact that my body is almost injury free helps.
“It is going to take everything I have to make it to the semis and eventually the finals, but I’m going in at my best.”
Pini will compete in the 100m backstroke on July 30 and the 100m butterfly on Aug 3 in London knowing the country will be cheering him on.