Team Fiji rising to Oceania challenge

By MARTHA DERUAGE
TEAM Fiji impressed against heavyweights New Zealand and Australian swimmers winning medals in the past days.
On Tuesday the team won a silver and a bronze medal in the Oceania class.
The silver medallist was Vakasama Taichi, who came second in the men’s 200m breast stroke, finishing in 2 minutes 17.39 seconds.
Jonathan Rutter, of New Zealand,won the gold medal in 2:15.4. Australia’s Finn O’Conner claimed the bronze medal in 2:18.70.
Taichi also won gold in the Island division of that competition.
The Island medal was an arrangement which was agreed by Oceania Swimming Association, to award non-Australian and New Zealand swimmers, who finish with qualifying times.
In the female 100m backstroke, Cheyanne Rova won bronze.
Yesterday in the men’s 100m breaststroke, Vakasama Taichi won silver again, while teammate Rabua Epeli won bronze.
Kiwi Rutter won the gold medal.
Fiji won bronze in the 4x50m medley relay, while Australia won silver and New Zealand gold.
“I know that swimmers from New Zealand and Australia are really fast and all I had to do was swim my best,” Taichi said. This is the third Oceanic championship that the 18-year –old has attended.
“I felt like I was a little behind from winning medals and I kept practicing.
“It’s been four years and I won a silver medal and I am really happy with that.
“I would like to thank my coach, teammates and my family for all their support.”
Taichi said the medals were a morale booster and he hoped to win more medals in coming competitions.
Oceania Swimming Association president Dennis Miller, also a board member for Fiji Swimming Federation, commended Team Fiji for their efforts.
“Team Fiji have a young squad of 22 swimmers, plus a few older ones but mostly young swimmers, who are doing pretty well in the first few days of the competition,” Miller said.
“There are a few athletes representing Fiji for the first time and the experience should be good as the team prepares for next year’s Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa,” Miller said.