Fiji – 7 up for Hansel
Four days and seven medals – that’s the impressive tally for Hansel McCaig. As such, he was ‘top seed’ leading into today’s Final of the Men’s 100m Freestyle in Palau. Being a favourite swimmer to win an event presents a different mental challenge when everyone is looking to chase you down. Hansel described how he successfully handled this to brilliantly claim his first individual gold medal at these Games.
‘I went in as the top seed so it was quite a lot of nerves and expectations. You have an opportunity to believe in all the hard work that you’ve put in. The race folded out the way that I’d hoped for, and I did enough to get my hand on the wall first. I hoped to go sub 50, in the 49s. It’s a gold medal so I’m just happy regardless.
It’s about consistency. Even when you don’t feel like doing it, just getting there to the pool and getting in the water, that takes you further than any motivation.’
Reuben Taylor was also a finalist in the same event. He stopped the clock in a time of 52.64 seconds. It was his highest individual placing this week in a Final for the young 17 year-old swimmer. In addition, he broke his previous personal best of 54.20 when finishing 2nd at the Fijian Short Course Trials just 5 weeks ago.
Two Fijians lined up in the Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final. Marseleima Moss and Imelda Smith. Marseleima was looking to secure her second medal of these Games to follow up on her silver in the 800m Freestyle. Imelda having also gained a silver medal in the 4 x 50m Mixed Medley was looking to improve on her 6th ranking in Tuesday’s 800m Freestyle.
Imelda continued her progression by finishing a respectable 5th with a time of 19-32.39. Marseleima, whilst not quite achieving her hopes for going sub 18 minutes, her competitive nature came through to clinch her second silver medal of these Games. Her time of 18-42.74 just edged out Samoa’s Talia Saumamao.
It’s been a long time since Marseleima was taught how to swim by her mum at the tender age of two, but it was an important moment leading to today’s success.
‘Since then, I’ve just enjoyed it. There’s obviously a lot of ups and downs with it but yeah that’s probably what’s inspired me the most. This race is 60 laps, so you’d think there’s a lot going through your mind but for me personally I think just making sure I’m keeping my pace and keeping my stroke rate and technique is important. ‘
Reuben Taylor qualified for the Final of the 1500m Men’s Freestyle, finishing in a time of 19-04.67.
Last race of the evening session for the men was the 4 x 50m mixed Freestyle Relay. By this time the rain was lashing down on the pool, but nothing could dampen the spirit of the Fijian team. Vivita Bai, Hansel McCaig, David Young and Jonalese Vatubua inched their way to an exciting victory by 1500th of a second over Tahiti. It was anyone’s race with only 1800th of a second separating the medals.
All in all a very good day in the pool for Team Fiji claiming 2 golds and one silver. That’s 17 swimming medals in these Games helping Fiji to 4th in the overall medal table.
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Words & interviews: The Reporters’ Academy. Photos: Ryota Nishida