Five-time Olympian Carl Probert believes turning professional will allow for sports like swimming to not only qualify to the Olympic Games on merit but also to win medals.
Two swimmers in David Tolu Young and Anahira McCutcheon will represent Fiji at the 2024 Paris Olympics, both going in through universality places.
While Fiji has been represented in swimming during past Olympics, none has ever returned with a medal.
Probert who swam for Fiji at the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics believes the sport needs to turn pro to get gold.
“I think we just have to get to a point where sports is a profession not only for the athletes but mainly for the entourage, the sports staff. When the coaches, physios, nutritionist are paid full time then I think we will start to see the level of performance really change,” he said.
The Fijian Drua’s existence in the country gives the hope that all other sports can enter that professional space soon.
“It makes such a massive difference for all sports in general because we can lean on paid professionals at the top level to share their expertise and skill to other sports. Once all the sport has paid professionals, it will make a huge difference,” the national record holder added.
Probert who was 16 during his first Olympic outing said swimmers like 15-year-old McCutcheon proves that age is just a number when it comes to the pinnacle of sports.
“If you set your mind to it, stay focused you can achieve quite a lot. Stay humble and just be grateful for all the opportunities given to you and be prepared to held other people after you.”
Probert is currently the president of the Fiji Olympians Association. || Olympic- Swimming || FIVE-time Olympian Carl Probert believes turning p
