Vanuatu’s 18‑year‑old swimmer Leo Lebot began his World Long Course Championships campaign with the Men’s 50m Butterfly in Singapore. Lining up alongside Palau’s Kazuumi Nestor, Leo represented Vanuatu with pride in this heat, returning to the world stage after appearances at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau, Budapest 2024 Short Course Championships, the Youth Commonwealth Games, Oceania Championships, and more.
Leo had an astonishing start to his experience at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Singapore – annihilating his previous best of 31.47 from 2024 Oceania Championships, Leo takes home his new personal best and national record of 29.28. This breaks the previous record of Johnathan Silas obtained last year. Coming into the competition with a strong focus “I was going for sub 30m so I’m happy about it” it’s a great day for Leo.
This well earned accolade comes despite the challenge of training without a competition pool back home in Vanuatu, Leo continues to impress with each outing. Ben Howard, Technical Development Director for Team Vanuatu, noted, “We don’t have a competition pool in Vanuatu, so this is the first time swimming in a proper facility for several of our athletes. Great building blocks as we increase our depth and provide valuable international experience to our home‑grown talent.”
With one of the fastest reaction times in his heat 0.69, it’s clear the competition pool has no hold over Leo. As he describes the intense feeling walking out onto the pool deck and taking his place on the blocks “it feels like I get so nervous but then for a split second and then everything just goes calm around you”. Displaying the composure and focus of senior and experienced swimmers, Leo is a strong choice for Team Vanuatu.
In preparation for this event, Team Vanuatu take time to make improvements on their technical approach to these long course races, highlighting the main focus Leo is clear on what he has to do, how to go about it and how to execute those impressive skills. They master the front end speeds in a short course pool and then transfer this experience into the longer pools – “that front end speed and trying to hold that pace for the longer pool” – the key to success.
The value of this event is not just the competition, it holds so much more and especially for Pacific islanders who get the opportunity to meet. Leo is glowing as he describes the highlights of being here at the World champs in Singapore, having previously competed at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest last year “It’s the same vibe, it feels really unreal. You’re here with the world’s best swimmers and everything is so well organised. The pools are amazing, it smells like a new car in the pool. It’s great facilities and everyone is so nice and happy to meet up again. So yeah, it’s just great”.
Leo returns to the pool on day four for the 100m Freestyle, ready to push his limits once again.
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Written by The Reporters’ Academy