Fiji Swimming Prioritises Merit Qualification

"Fiji Swimming is prioritising merit-based selection for Team Fiji at the 2024 Olympic Games before considering Universality Placing (UP), says Lucy Erasito, Treasurer of Fiji Swimming and Assistant Manager of Team Fiji Swimming.

"We have to believe that we can qualify on a B Qualifying Time or Olympic Consideration Time which is still qualifying and we have to tell our athletes to trust the process and system in place within Fiji Swimming to help them qualify without depending on UP," she said.

Lucy said there were certain ways to qualify for the Olympics including having all athletes with an Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) or Athletes in relays (relay-only athletes), Universality places and invited athletes who have achieved an Olympic Consideration Time (OCT).

A total of 852 athletes will compete in swimming at Paris 2024 with a maximum of 26 quotas for men and 26 for women available to each NOC. For both the men’s and women’s competitions, each NOC will be eligible for a maximum quota of two athletes per individual event and one relay team per relay event.

At present, the number of Universality places has not yet been determined, however it is understood that all NOCs that enter and compete in the FINA World Championships will have the opportunity to compete at Paris 2024.

Quota places are allocated by name to athletes in individual events and to NOCs in relay events.

Meanwhile Lucy is adamant that the athletes they have chosen to represent Fiji at the upcoming 2024 Australian Open Championships and Oceania Swimming Championships 2024 will do Fiji proud.

"We have finalised a team of 18 swimmers to participate at the Oceania Swimming Championships 2024 but before that two athletes, Hansel McCaig and Kelera Mudunasoko will be participating in the 2024 Australian Open Championships," she said.

"Both events are Olympic qualifying events but Hansel will have to return after the 2024 Australian Open Championships as he has exams."

Lucy said other athletes in consideration for the Olympics included Commonwealth Youth Games bronze medalist David Young and teammate Anahira McCutcheon.

"Anahira has been very impressive during her age group events and David has already taken part in a few qualifying events with impressive times as well," she said.

"But for the moment our focus is on the two events in front of us and how we hope to ensure that we maximise our opportunities and learning's while participating."

Lucy said the team under the guidance of national coach Willie Elaisa and Team Manager Eugene Panuve and with the valuable support from the executive committee they are certain that the team will display exemplary sportsmanship and determination throughout the competition.

Swimming will run in the Paris la Défense Arena from July 27th to August 11th in 2024.

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PIC: Fiji Swimming