Fiji’s David Young, also known as Tolu, hit the pool at the 2024 World Aquatic Swimming Championships in Budapest with a lightning-fast reaction time of just 0.61 seconds off the blocks, the swimmer surged ahead to dominate the heat, completing the event in an impressive 23.11 seconds to secure a first place ranking. The standout performance on day one solidified Fiji’s presence as a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the swimmer has had limited practice in a 25m pool “It felt good. I haven’t practised much in a 25m pool so I didn’t really know what to expect, and I’m happy with the result” making the victory a testament to Young’s determination and passion for representing his sport and country.
When asked what it’s like to perform on a World stage, Young was keen to showcase his pride “it’s an honor to represent my country, Fiji” as well as deep gratitude for the experience “the pool felt great and I’m just happy to be here.”
The swimmer’s success was not just about talent—it was also a testament to an unshakable focus. Reflecting on the atmosphere, they shared, “The crowd? Definitely something to always keep in mind, but I just try to ignore them as much as I can.” This ability to block out distractions and channel their sole energy into their heat is what propelled them from limited resources to triumph on the world stage.
Naturally, we wanted to know what advice Tolu had for his teammates and other Pacific Islanders ahead of their upcoming heats later in the week “try to not get overwhelmed, focus on what you need to do and go and execute” Sound advice coming from someone with great focus and determination.
Young will return to the pool this week for the Men’s 100m freestyle, ready to prove once again that sheer focus and determination is a winning recipe for a successful World event.