Thursday 12th December
After a great start for Team Palau earlier in the World Aquatic Swimming Championships, Kazuumi Haruwoniafangi Nestor stepped up to take on the men’s 100m individual medley in the third day of events in Budapest. This is not only Kazuumi’s debut event in this competition but also his first time competing at a world championships.
Embracing this new experience Kazuumi was full of nerves but it was clear the reward of the experience was worth it, describing how he felt in the lead up to his heat, “really nervous! I’ve never felt this nervous before. I think it was pretty worth it”. This statement certainly undersells the significance of his remarkable accomplishment in this race.
Kazuumi was second to hit the water in his heat with an incredible reaction time of 0.63. This strong entry was continued with powerful split times, making a fantastic first lap time of 11.93. He maintained steady skill with further split times of 15.07 and 18.46, and astonishingly, he found a surge of power on the final 25 meters, clocking a remarkable lap time of 14.29, dropping an incredible 2 seconds from his previous 25m. A superb result for the youngest swimmer in the pool, Kazuumi secured a total finishing time of 59.75, resulting in a new national record for Palau, making Palauan history by being the first person to complete this race in under one minute.
Kazuumi was beaming after the race, it was evident this entry onto the stage of world class swimming suited him. With maturity matched to an older and more experienced athlete, Kazuumi reflected that this level of competition “should be overwhelming but it was actually really fun. I get to meet a lot of my idols. It’s actually really nice to be here”.
Embracing the energy of the competition, Kazuumi shared some detailed thoughts on the delivery of results in a 25m pool and how Palau train hard for this course length. The 25m competitions are “harder than the long course pool because there’s more techniques for it – the turns and underwaters, those really matter. So for me, I like it, because long course is just a straight through swim, here you have to turn. I like it.’
With his technical skills reflecting his strong delivery in the pool, it’s clear Team Palau works hard and achieves greatness. When asked if he could provide any advice to young swimmers looking to get into the sport competitively he offered these words of wisdom: “practice every single day, don’t skip practice. Have fun in practice and make a goal’.
As Kazuumi steps away from the pool, the echoes of his triumph resonate not only for him but for Team Palau as a whole. Setting a new national record in his debut at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest is a remarkable milestone that showcases his talent and dedication. His infectious enthusiasm and commitment to the sport serve as an inspiration for young swimmers everywhere. With valuable lessons learned and newfound confidence developed, Kazuumi is set to continue making waves in Budapest in his next heat later in the competition: men’s 50m freestyle.