Friday 13 December
As the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest reaches its fourth day events, Amaya Bollinger and Jaden Francis have both been showcasing their talents and representing Guam on the international stage.
In her final race of the competition, Amaya Bollinger took to the pool for the women’s 100m butterfly. Amaya approached the race with a positive mindset. “I really like the competition so far, I love the weather, I love the way the pool is set up this time; everything is really nice,” she said, reflecting on her experiences in Budapest.
She was joined in this heat by fellow Pacific islander Liana Planz from America Samoa and they both hit the water first with identical reaction times of 0.65. An incredible representation of the hard work and focus of island swimmers.
Continuing strong, Amaya delivered split times of 14.98, 16.96, 17.17, and 17.27, culminating in a commendable finishing time of 1:06.38. As she exited the pool, her reaction was reserved but reflective, providing a modest critique of her performance. “Definitely a really fun experience,” she noted, also highlighting the thrill of competing at such a prestigious event.
Amaya expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete, emphasising the valuable lessons she gained throughout the championships. “I learned from everything thats happened here; I’m really grateful I was able to go,” she added graciously. For Amaya, this event was not only about personal achievement but also about representing Guam with pride.
Shortly after, Jaden Francis took to the water for the men’s 100m freestyle, eager to make his mark as he navigated the nerves of competing at his first World Championships. Having experienced “definitely a lot of nerves yesterday” during his debut race, Jaden acknowledged the challenges of stepping onto the international stage. “It was a decent effort for a first world championships,” he said, conveying a sense of accomplishment at having faced his nerves head-on.