JASPER Williams High School’s lone swimmer Litiana Nagatalevu was not just a competitor at the Fiji National Schools Swimming Championships, she was a big sister to her fellow younger swimmers from Jasper Williams Primary School.
Nagatalevu competed in the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle in the girls 17-19 age-group category.
There’s a lot drawn from being a role model to look up to, and for the young swimmers, emulating Nagatalevu’s brilliance in the water was something they took in stride.
And for the year 11 student, she acknowledged her role in that capacity.
Nagatalevu said competing at the championships was an enjoyable experience.
“I was nervous at first because I had three consecutive events and it was enjoyable because I got to spend with my younger sisters from Jasper Primary, and I’m thankful for all the supporters, managers, coaches and my parents who have helped me to reach where I am today,” Nagatalevu said on Saturday.
This was her second year of competing in the championships and the year 11 student said she took up swimming after being inspired by her parents.
“I was inspired by my parents, I was doing other sports so they inspired me to go and try different sports,” she said.
Since then, she’s enjoyed being in the pool although it does come with its fair share of challenges.
“It’s been good, lots of ups and downs, hard training but it’s been good.”
She was part of eight swimmers competing for Jasper at the two-day event.
