Sport Preview: Open Water Swimming
The first medals of the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games will be awarded at open water swimming, where the Games action begins on Monday morning at Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort Mulifanua.
Both men and women will race a 5-kilometre distance. The men will enter the water at 10am, with the women jumping in five minutes later.
Medalists will likely take just over an hour to complete the course.
Read more:
At the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games, the race distance was reduced to 3 kilometres due to a receding tide and safety concerns, meaning this year’s contest will present different challenges in terms of course and pacing.
Last time, New Caledonia dominated the event, claiming gold and bronze in both the men’s and women’s events.
Women’s gold medalist Charlotte Robin (NCL) is returning to defend her title, as is silver medalist Matelita Buadromo (FIJ), but bronze medalist Leilani Flament (NCL) is not.
In the men’s race, none of the Port Moresby 2015 medal winners are competing, leaving the waters wide open for new medalists.
Open water swimming is a free event.
