Competing at the 2026 Oceania Swimming Championship here in Suva is a special moment for 22-year-old Kaiya Brown, the rising star of the Samoan swimming team.
The Damodar City Aquatic Centre is not just a familiar venue and returning to Fiji is a meaningful homecoming to where it all began.
After dominating the 100-metre backstroke heats yesterday, Brown’s eyes revealed something beyond her thrilling victory.
She’s not just competing here; she’s reconnecting with the place that launched her career.
While Brown proudly wears the Samoan flag on her cap, her Fijian heritage runs deep.
Her grandfather hails from Nakoula Village in Bua, and her father grew up in Nadi, attending Mount St. Mary’s and St. John’s College in Cawaci before moving to New Zealand.
“I’m so appreciative of both (parts of) my heritage,” she said.
“I’m happy to be from Fiji and Samoa and happy to run back home to New Zealand.”
For those who have been following her career, seeing Brown back in Suva is like watching a full circle moment.
She began competing in local events at 14, making a name for herself at the Grand Prix and Fiji Nationals.
She made her international debut for Samoa at the 2019 Pacific Games, and in 2024 she made her Olympics debut in Paris representing Samoa in the 50m butterfly stroke.
When asked why she chose Samoa over Fiji, she replied she initially aimed to represent Fiji however, Samoa was the one she settled on.
“But I just had a lot of options and opportunities that presented themselves and Samoa just made more sense at the time.”
