Pini set for Rio

  By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

THE Rio Olympic Games will be the fourth — and last — for Papua New Guinea swim legend Ryan Pini, following his recent B qualification for the world event.

Pini, who returned to Australia yesterday for the New South Wales State Championships, told The National that it would be his fourth appearance at the Olympics — a feat no other PNG athlete has achieved. 

He is one of the athletes on course to qualify for Rio, although he has earned a spot on the PNG team on merit as a B qualifier in the 100-metres butterfly, 100m backstroke and the 100m freestyle.

He has competed in the last three Olympic Games; Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012.

At 34 — and coming out of retirement to win seven gold medals during the 2015 Pacific Games — Pini said the success and adulation he got from Papua New Guineans was a motivating factor that pushed him to opt to return to the competitive arena one last time.

Pini said four years ago during the London Olympics, he made the decision to step back from swimming competitively and set his sights on bringing down the curtain on his career at the Pacific Games in 2015.

But as fate would have it, Pini showed he still had a lot to offer the country, winning a swag of gold medals and proved he was by far  the most successful swimmer to have represented PNG.

“Towards the Pacific Games, I was not really seriously thinking about swimming because I was out of training for 12 months,” Pini said.

“But making a comeback and swimming in my events, where I won seven gold medals and was named the 2015 Pacific Games male athlete of the Games was something that made me want to go on.” 

Pini said one of the contributing factors for him to go on was after becoming a father to son Nathan. “I am so proud of being a father and that is something that I treasure alongside my sporting achievements.

“At first when I was single, I would come home and be alone but now after training, coming home to hold Nathan is something I embrace,” he said.

Pini said he was fortunate to have his parents, wife and son beside him as he pursued one more Olympic experience.

He said it was rare for a swimmer to go on after reaching their mid-20s and he was proud he was able to.

“Swimming is part of my life —even after I retire,” he said.

Pini said following his retirement he would continue to take part in the World Masters events around the world.

“I will still be around.”