SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Anahira McCutcheon wrapped up the pool events at the Oceania Swimming Championships with a standout performance, finishing her campaign with an impressive nine medals for team Fiji.
For McCutcheon, it was meet that felt both rewarding and personal. She said her results came down to simple but important habits—training hard and staying calm when it mattered most.
“My secret to swimming is staying calm before my races,” she said, crediting her preparation for helping her deliver strong performances across the four days.
Among her races, the 50m butterfly stood out as her favourite. It was the closest to her personal best and, for her, summed up the kind of progress she felt throughout the competition.
Looking ahead, McCutcheon is already thinking bigger. She has her sights set on major international meets, including the Commonwealth Games and, eventually, the Olympic Games within the next five years.
“I’ve got Commonwealth Games and that will be my next big one,” she said.
She also made sure to acknowledge the support around her, thanking teammates and fans who turned up in numbers and backed the team throughout the championships.
At the time of reporting, McCutcheon had also taken part in the 1.25km open water relay in Pacific Harbour, bringing her busy and successful championships to a close.
