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Lanihei Connolly made history for Aquatics Cook Islands, claiming the silver medal in the 100m Breaststroke race at the Oceania Championships in the Gold Coast, Australia, over the weekend. ROMANI KATOA/24042202
Cook Islands swimmer Lanihei Connolly made history over the weekend by winning a medal at the Oceania Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.
Connolly, “the Cook Islands golden girl swimmer”,
claimed silver medal in the 100 metres breaststroke event.
She is the first female swimmer from the Cook Islands
to place in the top 10 of any swim categories in Australia.
Te Arii Bob, son of Jane Aperau and Ben Bob from
Sydney, made his debut for the Cook Islands.
He did extremely well, placing fourth in the 50m
backstroke in his first international event and setting a huge personal best
(PB) time.
Romani Katoa, president of Cook Islands Aquatics, is
proud of both Connolly and Bob’s performances.
Connolly is part of a group of swimmers who have been
training at the Bull Sharks as the first cohort of the World Aquatics Training
Centre established at Bond University, Queensland, Australia.
“Lani has grown and developed really well from last
year and is swimming stronger. She will most definitely get faster throughout
the year,” said Katoa.
Katoa added: “This is Te Arii’s first appearance for
the Cook Islands and he has already improved on his times with a couple of PBs.
He’s excited and proud and is gaining some good international experience.”
Last week, Connolly and Wesley Roberts competed at the
Australian Opens.
She finished ninth overall in the 50m breaststroke
final, again making swimming history as the first Cook Islands female swimmer
to place in this event’s top 10.
Roberts made the B final in the 200m freestyle.
Connolly and Roberts will be representing the country
at the Paris Olympics to be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Meanwhile, in Aotearoa New Zealand, Cook Islands
swimmers Mia Laban and Jacob Story are competing at the New Zealand Age Group
Championships and are beating top NZ swimmers in their age groups.
Story finished on top in the16-year age group, four seconds
faster than the second swimmer.
He also had an awesome 200 breaststroke race finishing
second overall and first for 16 years age group. He was nine seconds faster
than the Kiwi swimmer.
Laban had a stunning 100m freestyle race coming in
second in the 16 years age category in the heats.
Story and Laban were part of the Cook Islands team at
the World Championships in Doha, in February 2024.
“We are very proud of our swimmers and to see them progressing
well,” said Katoa.
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RPT
