Vanuatu Aquatics Federation

August 23 2024

Vanuatu was represented in the swimming events at the recent Paris2024 by Vanuatu Aquatics athletes Johnathan Silas and Loane Russet.

The Olympics is the pinnacle multisport event, held every 4 years, bringing together athletes from all around the world and the 2024 games were held in Paris, from 26 July to 11 August.

The VAF teens, 19-year-old Johnathan and 18-year-old Loane, were accompanied by VAF team manager Ben Howard, having been among the Vanuatu athletes successfully selected as the national swimmers to represent the country on the global stage.

They competed alongside the world’s best, showing determination and skill. Their commitment was showcased by the outstanding performances from the pair in the pool.

The two swimmers had undergone a six-week- training program at Holiday Inn in Port Vila, in preparation for the Games.

Johnathan and Loane participated in the 100m and 50m Men’s and Women’s Free style events, with their results. Setting new national records and personal bests for each.

RESULTS:

100 metres:

• Johnathan Silas: 59.38 seconds (new PB & national) Previous record 1.01.06 min

50 metres:

• Loane Russet: 28.86 seconds (new PB & national) Previous record 29.33

Johnathan Silas participated in the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands, the World Aquatics Championships and the Oceania Championships in the past 12 months. While Loane Russet also competed in the 2024 World Aquatics and Oceania Championships, alongside other swimmers in the Vanuatu national squad. However, Loane and Johnathan were the only two selected to participate at the Paris Olympics.

‘If I had to summarize this experience into one word, it would be: incredible. My first Olympics was and will always be my greatest achievement. Being able to represent my country at such a high level makes me so proud. To be able to swim amongst some of the greatest swimmers as well as seeing how dedicated they are to their sport, made me realize how important swimming is to me and how passionate I am about it. Concerning my event, I am happy to have reached my goal, which was to finish with a time of under 29s and set a new national record. I will never forget the amazing moments I had alongside my team, and I will always look back to these wonderful moments.’ said Loane.

Team Manager Ben Howard added how he was proud of Loane and Johnathan’s accomplishments at the Olympics’ I couldn’t be prouder of both Johnathan and Loane, they did the hard work leading into the Games and prepared really well in Paris. To have one swim, making your Olympic debut in front of over 17,000 fans and smash your best time, is a credit to their preparation for the Games. I really hope this is not the end but the beginning for these two incredibly talented young athletes that made history in Paris as Vanuatu’s first Olympic swimmers.’

The exceptional performance from these two athletes underlined their dedication and hard work, in making the most of this special opportunity.

The Vanuatu Aquatic Federation extends its heartfelt congratulations to Johnathan and Loane on their remarkable accomplishment and looks forward to witnessing their continued success in future international events.

VAF acknowledge its sponsors World Aquatics, VASANOC and especially Holiday Inn, for the continuous support towards the high-performance events, without which attendance and successful performance events, without which attendance and successful performance would not have been possible.

ENDS.

The Vanuatu Aquatic Federation will be sending two swimmers to compete in the 2024 Olympics, taking place in Paris later this month.  

Johnathan Silas and Loane Russet will be accompanied by the Vanuatu Aquatics Technical director, Ben Howard. The team is set to leave the Vanuatu on 18 July 2024.

VAF is proud to have athletes qualify at Olympic level two swimmers earning their place through hard work over the past years, having participate in regional and international events at which they consistently set personal bests times and national records.

Loane and Johnathan will participate in the swimming program during the first week of the Games in Paris with events from the 27 of July to 4of August.

Ben Howard noted what a big achievement it is for a small sports federation in the Pacific to have two young athletes qualify for this major internation event.

 ‘It’s an historic moment for the Vanuatu Aquatics Federation, a very young federation, to have two athletes selected to represent Vanuatu in swimming at the Olympic Games for the first time.

‘Full credit to Loane and Johnathan who have worked incredibly hard over several years to realise their dreams. They are outstanding young people, and we wish them every success in Paris Howard said.

VASANOC CEO David Lolo added how pleased the NOC was to have swimmers as part of Team Vanuatu, representing the small Pacific nation at the Olympics’.

‘The NOC is very pleased and excited to have two swim athletes, Johnathan Silas and Loane Russet compete at Paris 2024. We have watched the progress of both over the last year and a half having competed in World champs, Oceania champs and Johnathan at Solomons 2023. We look forward to July when they both create another small bit of history for Vanuatu sport.’

VAF wishes to acknowledge the coaches, administrators, swimmers, volunteers, and partners who have all supported the federation and especially, Loane and Johnathan in this journey.

Follow all the updates on event schedules and results on our Facebook page, as we follow the progress of our VAF team in Paris.

There are exciting new opportunities being offered at Vanuatu Aquatic Federation for two vacant positions. If this sounds like you send us an application to be apart of our dynamic team.

Development Facilitator & Development Assistant

Who are we?

The overall goal of Vanuatu Aquatics Federation (VAF) is to provide the opportunity for members to develop the life skill of swimming in an open and supportive environment. The grassroots program will focus on developing learn to swim programs and swim clubs on the island of Efate and its offshore islands. Our goals are to:

• Encourage children and young people to participate in swimming programs that incorporate safety and life skills development
• Support village swim instructors and school teachers in developing their own learn to swim programs and club competitions
• Provide training courses to increase local knowledge of swim instruction, water safety and surf life saving
• Engage provincial education and sports development officers, VASANOC, and other stakeholders in the implementation of programs.

Vacancies

We are hiring a Development facilitator and an Development assistant to complete our current team to:

• Deliver daily programs to communities and schools around Efate and its offshore islands.
• Support the delivery of train the trainer courses to swim instructor and water polo volunteer coach candidates across Vanuatu, providing equal opportunity to all
• Mentor trainees in communities and schools so they can eventually deliver their own programs
• Organise the logistic operations of the outreach program and training programs on a day to day basis
• Engage communities in discussions and continued lesson learning and improvements of outreach programs
• Collect survey data with support from VAF instructors
• Support the running of events in VAF pool venue and open water, ensuring they are safe and accessible to people with disability, women and girls

Experiences & qualification required:

• And/or experience in teaching/ running swim events or other sport events
• And/or experience in implementing community programs
• And/or experience mentoring individuals and/or groups.
• Completed High School Level 12 an advantage but not necessary
• Completed or In Progress of Let’s Swim or Swim Australia Swim Instructor Course
• Completed or In Progress of First Aid and CPR
• Police clearance, 3-character references about working with children

How to apply ?

Please ask the detailed job description per email or come to our office to know more about

• Send your resume, motivation letter and provide your references to swimming@vanuatuaquatics.com
• Or drop your application to our office.
• For more inquiry call us on 7735011.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate bus servicer to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for transportation on a daily basis.

If you wish to apply do so by filling in the form and dropping it off at the office or sending it back by email.

Contact details:

Phone: 7735011

Email: lpedro@vanuatuaquactics.com

The Results from our age group championships are as follows. Please note that some results differ from ribbons provided but these results are verified and are final. New ribbons will not be issued.