Pini bags third gold

By HENRY MORABANG

SWIMMING legend Ryan Pini broke his own Pacific Games record in the 50m butterfly in 23.93 seconds, and celebrated with fans at the Taurama Aquatic Centre.

Pini had clocked 24.39s in the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia.

Stephane Debaere won silver in 24.69, while Hugo Lambert won bronze in a time of 25.27sec.

The other gold was won by the PNG mixed team of Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane, Samuel Seghers, Savannah Tkatchenko and Ryan Pini. 

They won in 1.40.02, beating Fiji (silver) and New Caledonia (bronze).  

Pini said he was happy with yet another gold medal, and was looking for two more in his remaining events today and tomorrow.

“Getting tired after four days of intensity in the pool,” Pini said.

“Hopefully, I can recover for the remaining two events.”

At 33 years of age, Pini is confident of winning in the 50m freestyle today and the 200m backstroke tomorrow.

With four gold medals in the bag so far, Pini said tomorrow was just another day. The swimming competition ends on Sunday, with the open swim at Loloata, just outside Port Moresby.

Ryan Maskelyne won silver in 2:21.22  in the 200m breaststroke, while Savannah Tkatchenko clocked 1:16.96 in the 100m breaststroke. 

Maskeylne picked up his first Pacific Games medal after finishing second to Amini Fonua of Tonga. 

The New Zealand-based Tonga swimmer won in 2:20.27. 

Guam’s Benjamin Schulte picked up the bronze in 2:22.29.

Tkatchenko picked up her second bronze medal after finishing behind new 100m breaststroke Pacific Games record holder Adeline Williams (1:11.05) and silver medallist Pilar Shimizu of Guam (1:16.05)

The swimming competition continues today, with the men’s 50metre backstroke, women’s 100m freestyle, men’s 200m freestyle, women’s 400m individual medley, men’s 100m breaststroke, women’s 400m freestyle 4×100 relay and men’s 400m freestyle 4×100 relay.