Vanuatu Aquatics Federation (VAF) Swimming team debutant, 14-year-old Rémy Idieder, has set a National Record in his first ever swim for Vanuatu. Competing in Day 1 of the XIV Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva (Fiji), Rémy swam a 1.13.88 in the men’s 100m backstroke, taking just under 14 seconds off the previous long-standing record. The previous record of 1.27.85 was held by Vasir Edmond, in a swim from the 2018 at the Oceania Swimming Championships in Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).
Commenting on his debut and record, Rémy Idieder commented ‘It was very exciting to make my Vanuatu debut, especially at such a young age. I’ve never used the backstroke starting wedge before, and I rarely get the opportunity to swim in a competition pool, so it was a little bit daunting as well. My legs were burning and cramping up in the second 50m, but I’m really pleased with my swim, time and my first national record.’
Not to be outdone, 16-year-old Chloe Ameara, now a veteran of the team, broke her own national record in the women’s 100m backstroke. Chloe swam a 1.31.07, to better the 1.34.58 she swam at the 2024 Oceania Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast (Australia), when she was just a 14-year-old herself. In the other women’s event, Olympian Loane Russet OLY, swam a strong 31.19 in the women’s 50m butterfly, just outside her national record of 30.63.
Léo Lebot started the day in strong fashion for Vanuatu, swimming a national record of 28.93, in the men’s 50m butterfly. This improved on his own mark of 29.28, set at the World Championships in Singapore last year. Making his return to the pool since the Paris Olympic Games, Johnathan Silas OLY, swam a strong 30.30, just outside his personal best of 30.09. While on Oceania debut, Dani Teilemb (35.27) and Robsen Dick (35.52), both swam personal bests.
It was double delight in the Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay, as Léo Lebot, Chloe Ameara, Johnathan Silas OLY and Loane Russet OLY, swam a 1.56.82 to smash their own national record of 2.00.62, they set at the 2024 Oceania Swimming Championships. Swimming the lead-off leg, Léo Lebot also broke the men’s 50m freestyle national record, swimming a 26.80, to break teammates Johnathan Silas OLY previous time of 27.62, which was also set on the Gold Coast two years ago.
Team Manager, Kali Ameara summed up the first day “It was a great start to the competition for Team Vanuatu. Almost all personal bests, or just off, so it sets the team up well for the next three days of competition. I couldn’t be prouder of the team on what they achieved today.’
Full results from Day 1:
NR = National Record
PB = Personal Best
Men’s 50m Butterfly
- Léo Lebot: 30th (28.93) – NR
- Johnathan Silas OLY: 33rd (30.30)
- Dani Teilemb: 34th (35.27) – PB
- Robsen Dick: 35th (35.52) – PB
Women’s 50m Butterfly
- Loane Russet OLY: 26th (31.19)
Men’s 100m Backstroke
- Rémy Idieder: 18th (1.27.85) – NR
Women’s 100m Backstroke
- Chloe Ameara: 21st (1.31.07) – NR
Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
- Léo Lebot, Chloe Ameara, Johnathan Silas OLY and Loane Russet OLY: 14th (1.56.82) – NR
Men’s 50m Freestyle (lead off leg in the Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay)
- Léo Lebot (26.80) – NR
The full list of upcoming events is:
Sunday 10th May:
- Women’s 50m Backstroke: Chloe Ameara
- Men’s 50m Backstroke: Rémy Idieder
- Women’s 100m Freestyle: Loane Russet
- Men’s 100m Freestyle: Dani Teilemb, Léo Lebot, Johnathan Silas & Robsen Dick
- Mixed 4 x 50m Medley Relay: Chloe Ameara (backstroke), Johnathan Silas (breaststroke), Léo Lebot (butterfly), & Loane Russet (freestyle)
Monday 11th May:
- Men’s 50m Breaststroke: Dani Teilemb, Johnathan Silas, Rémy Idieder & Robsen Dick
- Women’s 50m Breaststroke: Chloe Ameara & Loane Russet
- Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay: Dani Teilemb, Léo Lebot, Johnathan Silas & Rémy Idieder
Tuesday 12th May:
- Men’s 200m Individual Medley: Rémy Idieder
- Women’s 50m Freestyle: Chloe Ameara & Loane Russet
- Men’s 50m Freestyle: Dani Teilemb, Léo Lebot, Johnathan Silas & Robsen Dick
- Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay: Dani Teilemb, Léo Lebot, Johnathan Silas & Rémy Idieder
END