Fiji Swimming Adopts Commonwealth Games Format

Fiji Swimming introduced a new competition format to swimmers during the three-day national opens tournament at the Damodar Aquatic Centre in Suva, yesterday.

Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova said, it is a replica of the Commonwealth Games format.

Eight top swimmers who meet the criteria will be selected for the Birmingham Games after the competition ends tomorrow.

“One of the new formats that we have done for this open nationals was to try and replicate the format that is being done for the Commonwealth Games which is the prelim-inary in the morning, semifinals and finals,” Rova said.

“It was a bit major challenge for the swimmers to be able to adjust to that but the fact they went in and competed and they were improving on their times, showed a lot of character not only on them as individuals.

“It also showed in their preparations and acknowledg-ment to the effort put in by the coaches in preparing them.”

Rova indicated there has been some impressive perfor-mance on day one with Olympian Taichi Vakasama beat-ing his 2019 Pacific Games record in the 200m breast-stroke.

Vakasama clocked 2:12.54s on Friday while his Pacific Games record was 2:14.98 set in Samoa in 2019.

“That’s well done to him, we are happy because of his consistent performance,” Rova said.

“At the Pacific Games it is usually five to six days but we are doing it in three days and the fact that they were able to produce this kind of time shows the great character and determination in them.

“And if they continue doing that until the Common-wealth Games we are confident they will be able to achieve times which are far better than what they are do-ing now.”

Other local swimmers who have been performing well are siblings Cheyenne and Rosemarie Rova, Ethan Taylor, Vivita Bai, Kelera Mudunasoko and Temafa Yalimaiwai. The open nationals was scheduled to be held during the Easter weekend but has been brought forward as author-ities have indicated the closure of the pool for about 15 months.

Rova indicated it would affect the team’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games in July.

“The only disappointment for us is that this pool is clos-ing on April 25 as we have been advised.

“And I’m appealing again on behalf of the authorities to reconsider and hold it off until the end of May, because we do not have the funds to be sending swimmers over-seas to have the quality venue and all that."