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Papua New Guinea swimming sensation Joshua Tarere wins his 100m freestyle heat in Paris.

Photos/ONOC

Olympics

PNG swimmer makes big splash in Olympic debut

Joshua Tarere won his 100m freestyle heat in Paris, clocking a personal best finish as Team Pacific continue hunt for medals.

Christine Rovoi
Christine Rovoi
Published
01 August 2024, 7:01pm
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Sponsored by the Pasifika Medical Association Group.
Pasifika Medical Association Group

The Australians and Americans are dominating in the pool at the Paris Olympics but there is one Pacific swimmer who has also made a huge splash.

Papua New Guinea's Joshua Tarere has been the toast of Team Pacific this week following the Fijian men's rugby sevens silver medal win on Sunday, New Zealand time.

On his Olympics debut, Tarere, 24, won his heat in the 100m freestyle, clocking a personal best of 53.85secs at the Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday.

Myanmar's Phone Han came in second (55.56) and Sangay Tenzin from Bhutan finished third (56.08).

Vanuatu's Jonathan Silas, 21, clocked 59.38 in fifth place, becoming his country's first swimmer at an Olympics.

Papua New Guinea's athletics 800m specialist Georgia-Leigh Vele, left, and swim star Joshua Tarere. Photo/Team PNG

Despite the win, Tarere who competed at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands last year, could not make the fastest 16 qualifiers to the Paris swim semifinals.

Jack Alexy (USA), who won silver in this event at the world championships last year, posted the fastest time with a 47.57 mark.

World and Olympic record holder Pan Zhanle (China) who qualified in 48.40 went on to clinch the gold medal. Pan also broke his world and Olympic record with 46.40.

Australia's Kyle Chalmers won the silver in 47.48, pipping Romanian D Popovici (47.49) at the wall. Alexy finished at seventh (47.96).

Sāmoa's Johann Strickland, 21, finished eighth in 52.94 in another heat. While Strickland finished faster than Tarere, the Sāmoan swim star also failed to make the semis.

Tarere is now ranked 72 in the 100m freestyle and it's a great achievement, his mentor and former PNG Olympian Ryan Pini said.

Straight off the blocks, Tarere led the field to finish the first 50m in 26.27. At the turn, the New Ireland-East New Britain native picked up speed with Phone and Sangay hot on his heels. But Tarere maintained his composure to win.

Papua New Guinea athletics sprinter Leonie Beu will begin her Olympic campaign in the 100m this weekend. Photo/Team PNG

Tarere hails from a sporting family, with dad Robin having represented PNG in rugby union.

Team Pacific are yet to claim their second medal in Paris with more athletes to compete.

Friday will see Fijian judoka Gerard Takayawa feature in the men's +100kg division at the Champ de Mars Arena.

Saturday: Swimmers Anahira McCutheon (Fiji), Kaiya Brown (Sāmoa), Georgia-Leigh Vele (PNG), and Kayla Hepler (Marshall Islands) will all compete in the women's 50m freestyle.

In the track and field, Cook Islands' middle-distance champion Alex Beddoes will begin his Olympic campaign in the 800m at Stade de France while Sāmoan Alex Rose will compete in the men's discus throw.

Next week will see more Pacific athletes competing in the wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo, and track and field events.

The Paris Games ends on 12 August. Find the official Olympic medal tally here.

PMN's Olympics coverage is proudly brought to you by the Pasifika Medical Association Group.

Watch PMN's Olympic correspondent James Nokise's interview below.