Robin gets first gold of Games

 By ISAIAH IGISH

NEW Caledonian triathlete Charlotte Robin won the 2015 Pacific Games gold medal in the women’s competition yesterday.

To add to her list of memories for the Port Moresby Games, Duke of York Prince Andrew awarded her the gold medal at the presentation ceremony before noon at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium yesterday.

Tahiti’s Salome Db De Marmorieres bagged silver, with New Caledonian Celine Hirezel settling for the bronze medal. 

Papua New Guinea’s Rachael Sapery James finished fifth. 

Robin was so astonished with her win after taking up the sport just two-years ago.

“I feel very good, I’m proud to be a winner,” Robin, who bagged silver in the 5-kilometre open water competition in 2011, said. 

“It was a difficult race because the sun was very hot and little bit windy but I’m very proud of my performance.” 

Robin, who will be taking part in the 5km open water competition at Loloata next Sunday, said her plan was to go faster in swimming, and then try to keep the distance.

“I’m not very good in cycling but I tried to go fast too and running was good because of the support from the local Papua New Guinea crowd on the road.

“Everybody was very nice here with us and it was a good game,” the lady who took triathlon two-years ago said. 

She said it was her first medal in triathlon but she: “First Pacific Games medal in triathlon in swimming I got medals in Guam, Fiji and New Caledonia. 

New Caledonia Olympic and Sports Committee president Charles Cali said the win was good news for more medals to come.

“It was very difficult because we had the Tahiti (woman) trailing on second place,” Cali said. 

“It was a target for us and we got that with most of the team at third and fourth place.” 

Robin led the swim at the Lancon Naval Base, Port Moresby keeping a safe 100m distance from her opponents and that paid off for her as she continued to lead until finishing the race at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

Results: Robin 01:06:30 (Swim: 09:58, Cycle: 37:54, Run: 18:01), De Marmorieres 01:06:49 (swim: 11:43, Cycle: 37:15, run: 17:19) and Hirzel 01:08:39 (swim: 13:46, cycle: 37:54, run: 16:12).