Thursday 12th December
Fiji was represented by Hansel McCaig in his final swim at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest. Milestone moments were made in this race as Hansel achieved both a personal best and national record for Fiji. Following the heat Hansel reflected that the race went better than expected following an injury that set back his training a few weeks earlier.
As Hansel spoke following his race, the discomfort on his face was evident, he shared that his hand had suffered further injury whilst he was competing. Despite this setback, he went on to take home a commendable finishing time of 57.31 and ranked 4th in his heat. An achievement that seems quite remarkable given the excruciating pain he was swimming with.
Ever the professional and still in excellent humour, Hansel expressed his delight at being able to compete in this event and see out this year with an incredible achievement. Hansel entered the pool first, with the fastest reaction time of 0.58. This propelled him through the water at an incredible speed, establishing a strong technique for his laps. He took on the first 25 meters in a time of 10.97. Maintained steady skill with further split times of 14.62 and 17.63, and astonishingly, found a surge of power on the final 25 meters, clocking a remarkable lap time of 14.09, dropping an incredible 3 seconds from his previous 25m.
This is Hansel’s final race in this competition and it was clear he gave absolutely everything he had to this event. Positively reflecting post race sharing that he “had a really good mindset going into it, the last race… nothing to hold back. No point holding anything back because it’s the last one and the last one of the year. I’m happy this race ended my year.”
Hansel is now able to sit back and rest, letting his body recover but when describing what he would do next, without hesitation, he responds “support the team, support the islands”
As Hansel reflects on the opportunities the World Championships has offered him, he takes away thoughts for the future, being on the world stage “really gives you a sense of direction in terms of your swimming career…. what you need to work on for the future”. The experiences gained at this prestigious event will surely guide his path forward, providing valuable insights as he strives toward his future goals.
As Hansel McCaig concludes his World Championship journey, his dedication and resilience stand as a shining example for fellow athletes across the Pacific Islands. Despite the challenges posed by injury, his performance and sportsmanship have left a lasting impact on Team Fiji and their supporters. With a personal best and national record secured, he showcased his skill and demonstrated the heart and determination that underpin his journey.