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Samoa keeps adding to National records at World Swimming Championships

It was the busiest day yet in the pool in Kazan, Russia, for the Pacific island swimmers. The Oceania representatives had no fewer than 17 athletes competing across four events.

 

Samoa’s Winter Heaven is keen to lead by example at these championships for the young team around him. He currently holds six national records, rewards not only for his dedication and commitment but also for the importance he has always placed on representing Samoa.

 

The 21 year old posted his personal best and national record in the 100m Freestyle at the Oceania Championships of 2014 in New Zealand. A time of 53.01 seconds. That had disappeared by 10am on day four in Kazan, with Winter racing home in 52.77 seconds. He was tired but clear in his reflections straight after the race,

 

“ I’m pretty happy with it. It’s a best since I came back to the sport. It was a fun one, it’s always fun racing in the next lane to Ifa (Ifa Paea from Tonga) but it hurt, it hurt a lot.”

 

His drive was evident as he began to outline the next steps to success,

 

“There’s still some small conditioning issues I need to work on but that’s just going to come with time and as part of training. I’m pretty happy with my technique, I’m feeling good in the water. So now it’s just the little things, like hitting the wall a little better, bringing it home in the last 15m and being a bit stronger.”

 

The former Utah College student, who has been swimming for just ten years is next in the pool on day six where he will line up in the 100m Butterfly.

 

“ I got a chance to look at my ‘Fly this week which has been helpful, to work on a few things that we’ve pointed out in practice. Hopefully, I can transfer that to a race”

 

The 50m Backstroke was the first event and Evelina Afoa of Samoa lined up alongside two other Oceania swimmers from the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia.

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