Saturday 14 December
Towards the end of a busy week at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest three remarkable swimmers representing the Kingdom of Tonga – Carolann Faeamani, Vaoahi Afu, and Finau Ohuafi – showcased their skills on the international stage. Each athlete brought their unique strengths and experiences to the competition.
Carolann was the first to hit the water in the women’s 50m freestyle. As she finished her race, she reflected on her performance with a combination of disappointment and optimism. “It was 0.1 off and not too bad, but definitely got a lot of improvements to work on,” acknowledging the specific areas she aims to develop in her training. However, her spirits were lifted by the overall atmosphere of the competition. “I just really enjoy the atmosphere and getting to meet new people before my race and getting to talk to them; it’s pretty cool,” highlighting the friendships formed amongst other competitors.
Carolann entered the water with a reaction time of 0.69 seconds and followed up this great start with split times of 13.49 and 14.69, ultimately finishing with a time of 28.18. “I definitely enjoyed the competition overall. I have a lot of things to work on; definitely with my start, diving practice, and maybe some more things on my stroke,” she noted, reflecting on her growth as a swimmer.
Now that she has completed her race, Carolann expressed excitement about exploring Budapest with the team and indulging in some desserts!
As she reflects on her time at the competition she shares that her fondest memory from the event was the Oceania lunch, where she connected with fellow athletes, emphasising, “It was really cool to meet a lot of the new swimmers, and it was fun to be a Pacific island together.”
Following Carolann’s heat, teammate Finau Ohuafi took to the pool for the men’s 50m freestyle. Embracing the excitement of competition, Finau shared, “The best thing about being here competing is that you race with your friends; pushing each other is good.” Finau delivered an impressive performance, achieving his desired time and feeling happy with his results. With a finishing time of 23.26 seconds, he secured an impressive time, exclaiming, “I was aiming for a time I wanted, and that’s what I got. Surprised and happy to see that.” A remarkable aspect of his experience was achieving a new national record, leaving him speechless with pride.
Finau credited his father’s advice for his race preparation: “Do a small prayer and be thankful.” He embraced this preparation style alongside his own mantra: “Make a plan, visualise it, and execute it.” Reflecting on his performance, he stated, “I did exactly that and did beyond what I expected, so I’m super, super happy with what I did.” Finau’s split times clocked in at 13.49 and 14.69, which culminated in a fantastic finish.
Finally, Vaoahi Afu stepped up to race in the women’s 50m breaststroke. After completing her swim, Vaoahi expressed her satisfaction with the experience of competing against so many talented swimmers. “Overall, I reckon I did good. The competition was so good to see fast swimmers, especially in my main stroke, breaststroke. It was really interesting,” she noted enthusiastically. Like her teammates, Vaoahi found joy in the social aspects of the championships, stating, “It was good to meet new people.”
One of her favorite memory from the event was witnessing Jordan Crooks from the Cayman Islands achieve a world record in freestyle, which inspired her as a fellow competitor. With split times of 15.77 and 18.49, she finished strong at 34.26 – a new national record and PB.
As all three swimmers from Tonga concluded their races at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships, their collective experiences embodied the spirit of determination, teamwork, and cultural pride.
They achieved personal bests and national records, they fostered meaningful relationships with fellow competitors and showcased camaraderie among Pacific islanders. Now that the competition is over for Carolann, Finau, and Vaoahi, look forward to exploring Budapest.