Guam’s first swimmer to leave the blocks at the 22nd World Aquatics Championships was Amaya Bollinger. The recent Pacific Mini Games silver medallist in the Women’s 200M Butterfly discipline was a starter in the 100m version at these Long Course Championships.
The 17 year-old who, by her own admission, feels more at home in a 50m pool, once again did herself proud at such a young age. Amaya touched the wall in 1-06.93 just 0.22 seconds outside breaking her own National Record set when she was fifteen.
She smiled as she told us,
‘I’m going to be honest I couldn’t see the time, I need my glasses. But if it’s 1-06.93 then I’ll believe you.’
‘Going out was pretty easy. I feel like I could have gone out a little harder but coming back I was doing okay until the last 15 metres. The last 15 metres was pretty hard, but I think I finished as strong as I could so I’m pretty happy.’
It was an accurate reflection of her performance. In fact, her last 50m was only beaten by the Heat winner. Amaya powered down the final length in 35.39 seconds.
Amaya attends the Manhoben Swim Club on Guam. A club synonymous with an important person in Amaya’s life. Namely her dad, Darrick. A 1996 Olympian who swam for Guam in Atlanta, and whose local records still stand. Needless to say, Amaya’s inspiration and support was not too far away as we carried out the interview in the Mixed Zone.
It’s only just been a matter of weeks since Amaya was in action in the pool at the Pacific Mini Games and it was interesting to find out how she managed the two different competitions.
‘Here, it’s pretty cool as always, I mean it’s always really nice to be able to compete on this scale, it’s amazing walking out there and seeing the stands and all the people so it’s really nice. I feel like the Mini Games was definitely more of a ‘my level’ Meet and I really enjoyed that. Having two weeks of rest and then preparation for this Meet was not a lot, but it was still good to get my short course times and then hopefully see what I can do with my long course times throughout this week.’
Amaya follows up with the 200m Butterfly later this week and the young swimmer who describes herself as short, optimistic and mindful will be plotting a route to a fast time that everyone can see.
–Ends–
Written by The Reporters’ Academy