Competing against top swimmers keeps Kalate improving

Leonard Kalate says competing against top swimmers from Australia and New Zealand has allowed him to keep improving his technique ahead of next year’s Pacific Games.
Kalate said it was a tough but valuable learning experience competing with top swimmers from Australia and New Zealand at the Oceania Championships last week.
The 18-year-old was proud of winning an island medal (silver) in his pet event – the men’s 100m breaststroke – clocking a time of 1:07.32.
The Lae-based swimmer, from Pomio in East New Britain, represented the country at the Commonwealth Games in April and according to his family, Kalate is improving every time he jumps into the pool.
“I am happy to win an island medal (silver),” Kalate said.
“The competition was very tough against Australia and New Zealand swimmers.
“During the time between the Commonwealth Games and this Oceania Championships, I didn’t achieve my personal best.
“But this time, I got my personal best in the men’s 100m breaststroke and I am happy about it.
“Competing against Australia and New Zealand, I got the nervous, especially with the home crowd supporting in the background.
“But I had to keep calm, concentrate on the race and get a good time.
“This is my second time to compete at the Oceania Championships, with my first being in Fiji two years ago.
“To be very competitive against top swimmers from Australia and New Zealand, I have to spend more hours training to reach that level.”
Kalate was part of Team PNG along with sister Rehema, 14, who competed at the championships for the first time.
Kalate completed the championships as a lead-up to the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Pacific Games in Samoa.