MEDIA RELEASE
Vanuatu Aquatics Federation Celebrates Historic Year and Charts Course to LA 2028
From first splash to Pacific Games finals: VAF releases 2025 Annual Report and Strategic Map
PORT VILA, VANUATU – 14 February 2026 – The Vanuatu Aquatics Federation (VAF), Vanuatu’s nationally recognised and World Aquatics-affiliated governing body for aquatic sports, has released its VAF 2025 Annual Report alongside its Strategic Map 2025-2028.
Together, the documents highlight VAF’s most successful competitive year to date and outline a clear, locally led pathway toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games grounded in strong governance, community partnership, and ni-Vanuatu leadership. Detailed operational and risk planning is shared directly with government and donor partners.
Historic Competitive Achievements
2025 saw VAF athletes achieve unprecedented success on the international stage. The women’s 4x100m medley relay team—Chloe Ameara, Lou-Anne Delrieu, Olympian Loane Russet, and Pamela Mesa—made history as the first Vanuatu team ever to compete in a Pacific Games final, finishing sixth at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
Across multiple events, including the pacific Mini-Games in Palau and the World Championships in Singapore, VAF athletes set 38 national records and achieved 63 personal bests. Two athletes,Olympian Loane Russet and Léo Lebot, now train full-time overseas on Olympic Solidarity scholarships, preparing for Glasgow 2026 and LA 2028.
A Decade of Building Water Safety Culture
Beyond elite competition, VAF reached 530 participants through free learn-to-swim programs in 2025—a 33% increase from the previous year. The flagship Swim, Splash and Survive program, supported by the Australian Government through Team Up, expanded to 10 partner schools across five islands, including first-time delivery to the offshore islands of Nguna, Lelepa, Pele, and Moso.
This expansion builds on more than a decade of VAF partnership with rural communities—working alongside chiefs, area councillors, principals, teachers, and provincial education offices to build a culture of water safety across Vanuatu’s islands.
“Our greatest achievements are not measured only in finals reached or records broken. They are measured in the confidence of a nervous eight-year-old floating independently for the first time. We’ve spent over a decade building trust with rural communities, and now we’re ready to transition those partnerships into Solwota Sef programs: ocean safety education that churches, schools, and youth groups can run independently. Water safety shouldn’t depend on whether you live in an urban centre.” — Nancy Miyake, VAF President
New Aquatic Hub: Phase One of Accessible Programming
Through an innovative partnership with the Vanuatu Tennis Federation and a generous pool donation from Nambawan Café, VAF has established its first facility—the VAF Aquatic Hub at Stade.
The Hub represents Phase One of VAF’s facility strategy: starting with accessible, community-focused programming and growing sustainably. Initial operations will focus on expanding free school swimming and introducing affordable after-school programs, with junior, development, and senior squad training to follow as the facility develops.
“Rather than waiting for a perfect facility, we’re starting now with what we have,” said Ms Miyake. “This donated pool allows us to increase access to programs immediately while we continue advocating for competition-standard infrastructure.”
The Hub will also support para swimming, which VAF plans to launch in 2026 in partnership with the Vanuatu Paralympic Committee. Applications for an accessibility ramp have been submitted.
Transparent Governance and Ni-Vanuatu Leadership
The 2025 Annual Report confirms strong organisational foundations, including audited finances, safeguarding compliance, and strengthened financial controls. All staff completed safeguarding training, and VAF met all World Aquatics governance requirements despite post-earthquake disruption.
In 2025, VAF also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Justice and Community Services and the Department of Youth and Sport, formalising its role in national youth and community sport development.
Central to VAF’s strategy is building ni-Vanuatu leadership. Four staff members qualified as Let’s Swim Instructors in 2025 and are progressing toward Let’s Swim Presenter certification through Oceania Aquatics. This enables VAF to train instructors locally—by ni-Vanuatu, for ni-Vanuatu—reducing reliance on international expertise and keeping capacity within communities.
2026: A Landmark Year Ahead
VAF athletes will represent Vanuatu at major international competitions throughout 2026:
- Oceania Championships – Fiji (May 2026)
- Commonwealth Games – Glasgow, Scotland (July 2026)
- Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) – Dakar, Senegal (November 2026)
- World Short Course Championships – Beijing, China (December 2026)
Domestically, VAF will open the Aquatic Hub, launch urban school swimming programs, introduce affordable public access learn-to-swim, and establish structured junior, development, and senior squad training.
Partnership Opportunities: Join the Movement
VAF is inviting aligned sponsors and partners to support its next phase of growth. The federation offers exceptional value for money—reaching hundreds of children annually with life-saving education using a locally-led workforce and highly efficient program models.
Sponsorship opportunities include:
- International team travel – High-visibility branding as Team Vanuatu competes in Fiji, Glasgow, Senegal and Beijing
- School swimming expansion – Support free water safety education reaching rural and urban communities
- Squad development – Invest in junior, development, and senior athlete pathways toward LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032
- Domestic events – Naming rights for the returning seafront sprint series and national championships
- Solwota Sef program – Be a founding partner of community-owned ocean safety education across Vanuatu’s islands
- Para swimming – Support Vanuatu’s first structured para-aquatics pathway
Swimming in Vanuatu is for everyone—from first splash to international. We invite businesses and donors who share this vision to partner with us. Every investment translates directly to children, athletes, and communities facing services.
Key 2025 Statistics
| Development | High Performance | Governance |
| 530 participants 10 partner schools 5 islands reached 4 Let’s Swim instructors | 38 national records 63 personal bests 1st Pacific Games final 2 Olympic scholarships | 100% safeguarding compliance MoU with MoJCS Audited finances First Aquatic Hub |
About the Vanuatu Aquatics Federation
The Vanuatu Aquatics Federation is the nationally recognised and legally registered governing body for all aquatic sports in Vanuatu, affiliated with World Aquatics, Oceania Aquatics, and VASANOC. Founded in 2015 to transform swimming from an exclusive activity into a life skill accessible to all ni-Vanuatu children, VAF operates as Vanuatu’s largest provider of free learn-to-swim education. As a registered non-profit in Vanuatu with audited finances, government partnership, and stringent safeguarding compliance, VAF is committed to transparent governance and accountable stewardship of donor and sponsor investment. VAF’s mission is to grow aquatics across the nation—making learn-to-swim a life-saving educational right, while empowering ni-Vanuatu athletes to rise from grassroots to the world stage.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanuatu Aquatics Federation
Email: lpedro@vanuatuaquatics.com
Phone: +678 7735011
Website: www.vanuatuaquatics.com
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The VAF 2025 Annual Report and Strategic Map2025-2028 are available at www.vanuatuaquatics.com.