Wednesday 11th December 2024
It was an action-packed day in the pool for Team Samoa at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest, as the team showcased their talents in both individual events and a thrilling mixed relay. With Hector Langkilde and Kaiya Brown representing Samoa in the 100m freestyle events, excitement filled the air as they aimed for personal bests.
Kaiya was first to dive into the water for the women’s 100m freestyle, and she emerged feeling “pretty happy” about her performance. Swimming with determination, she clocked an impressive final time of 1:01.22, marking her season best. The atmosphere was electric as she could hear all her teammates, watching with cameras and for Kaiya this was “pretty awesome having them support me!”
With a strong reaction time of 0.72 seconds, Kaiya launched into her race, powering through the first lap with a rapid time of 13.78 seconds. Maintaining her strength and composure, she completed the remaining lengths with strong split times of 14.99, 16.08, and finishing with a confident 16.37. Reflecting on the shorter 25m race, Kaiya noted, “It feels a lot faster than long course races!” Her joy and satisfaction were infectious as she discussed her experience, and she expressed excitement for the upcoming mixed relay, where she would compete in the 50m backstroke, this will be a different stroke from the race she has just been in and a return to a stroke that she is familiar with and really loves to swim. .
Shortly after Kaiya’s race, Hector made his entrance into the pool with the exact same impressive reaction time of 0.72 seconds during his 100m freestyle. Hector took his speed into the water as he executed his race plan to “hold pace, building at the end.” He delivered strong and consistent split times with this mantra in mind – 11.44, 12.71, 13.34, and finished with a dash of determination with 13.18 seconds. Hector secured a remarkable final time of 50.73 seconds, narrowly missing a national record by just 0.09 seconds. Nevertheless, his season and personal best was a significant achievement.
Competing in the middle lane put Hector alongside fellow Pacific Islander Finau Ohuafi from Tonga, creating a spirit of camaraderie between the competitors. Inspiring to see islanders competing alongside one another, showcasing their talents for the Oceania region.
After the race, Hector could not hide his satisfaction, declaring he was “happy with the time” He mentioned he could feel the fast pace as he swam, indicating a successful execution of his race plan.
Following their individual events, Kaiya and Hector quickly joined their teammates Kokoro Frost and Paige Schendelaar-Kemp to compete in the mixed 4x50m medley relay. The atmosphere was filled with delight as they prepared for the relay, and smiles stretched across their faces after what had already been a positive racing experience. Kokoro delightfully noted, “this was one of the top three relay races for Samoa.”
In the relay, the four athletes demonstrated their teamwork and synergy, achieving a fantastic final time of 1:52.12. Kaiya led the way with a strong 50m backstroke leg, pleased with her performance, stating it was on track with her personal best pace. Kokoro also expressed satisfaction with his split time, feeling it landed right where he expected. Paige and Hector reflected on their solid performances as well, collectively celebrating a successful relay.
The energy, drive, and camaraderie of Team Samoa were electric throughout the day, leading to impressive results in the pool. With their spirits high and determination strong, the full team is now looking forward to the further races ahead in this championship. The pride and unity of this team will undoubtedly continue to propel them toward success as they make their mark at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships.