14th May 2026
The Solomon Islands team arrived in Fiji with a mixture of experienced competitors and first-time representatives, using the 14th Oceania Swimming Championships as an opportunity to test themselves against some of the region’s strongest swimmers while continuing to build the nation’s presence on the international stage.
Loise Bentley
Loise Bentley made her Oceania Swimming Championships debut, competing in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle. In the 50m Breastroke, Louise finished in the heats with a time of 51.83 and 32.14 in the 50m Freestyle Heats. Loise spoke about being thankful for the opportunity to compete internationally and acknowledged the support of friends and family who helped her reach the championships.
Bentley shows her dedication to the sport, discussing her daily training regime, approximately 16 hours each week. Her hard work proved worthwhile, as she said she was pleased with how her races unfolded. While describing the competition as tough, she viewed the experience as an important learning opportunity that will help her continue growing in future competitions.
Bentley also spoke passionately about inspiring future generations of swimmers in Solomon Islands, encouraging young athletes to continue pursuing the sport and carrying forward the country’s swimming legacy.
Bijay Ghusa Garry
Bijay returned for his second Oceania Swimming Championships appearance, competing in both Men’s 50m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly heats, with times of 27.57 and 1.14.69 respectively.
Ghusa reflected positively on the experience and said one of the highlights was seeing his Solomon Islands teammates racing alongside him at the regional event. He also expressed gratitude to family and supporters back home for their continued encouragement throughout the championships.
Brenton Naka
For Brenton Naka, the competition also marked his first appearance at an Oceania Swimming Championships, and the young swimmer left Fiji with a major personal milestone. Naka produced a significant personal best in the Men’s 100m Freestyle, cutting his previous mark of 1:29.00 down to 1:07.24 in the heats, an improvement of more than 20 seconds from the time previously recorded at last year’s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. He also finished first in heat two.
Naka described the competition as both challenging and rewarding, saying he was proud to have reached this level of competition. He also noted the adjustment required competing in Fiji, particularly adapting to different pool conditions and temperatures compared to those back home in Solomon Islands.
“I’m so proud of myself that I have reached this level.”
He also thanked his family and supporters, saying they would be proud to see him representing Solomon Islands internationally.
Junior Sanga
The championships carried extra significance for Junior Sanga, as he targeted qualification standards for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sanga produced a personal best in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke, improving from his seed time of 1:24.00 to 1:22.30 in the heats. He also entered the 50m Breaststroke, recording a time of 36.99.
After his races, Sanga spoke about his happiness with the result and the importance of representing Solomon Islands at another major regional meet.
“It feels so good. It’s my second Oceania Championships. I came here to qualify for the upcoming Games in Glasgow.”
He also thanked his teammates, family and supporters for their encouragement throughout the competition, while offering advice to younger athletes.
“Do your best and don’t give up, no matter what situation happens. Train hard and don’t give up.”
The championships also represented an important step in the broader development of swimming in Solomon Islands. Team officials described the event as a valuable opportunity for athletes to gain international race experience, build confidence and continue progressing towards higher levels of competition, including qualification pathways for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and other international events.
Well done Team Solomons.
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Thank you to Oceania Aquatics and World Aquatics continental support funding a new generation of Pacific Island reporters during these Championships, with eight trainees from Fiji and Samoa swimming federations working alongside The Reporters’ Academy to develop their skills, capture athlete stories, and share the voices of Pacific swimmers with a global audience. Photo credit to Andrea Schuster.