MOUNT Saint Mary’s dominated the Fiji Schools Swimming Championships in the primary division yesterday after winning both the men’s and women’s divisions.
The Nadi-based school defended their title as national champions winning 20 gold medals, 12 silver and seven bronze medals in the men’s and 14 gold medals, 17 silver and 17 bronze medals in the women’s division.
Fiji Schools Swimming Association president Patrick Bower said the sport had grown rapidly in the past five years.
“Schools need to get on board to take swimming as one of their physical education subjects because if children are not aware when in and around water, we are going to continue to have drowning. This serves as a preventative measure against drowning. It also gives them and added skill. The sport is growing and we have key coaches in schools.
“If schools have a swimming program, they need to have a paid coach and that is organised.
“Schools have come on board and paid for coaches, they factored it into their budget.
“The children, not all of them, will reach this level, but they are aware about water and what to do and how to swim,” he said.
Marist Brothers Primary School came second in the men’s division while Nadi Airport School was second in the women’s.
Results:
Women’s Primary School Top 3: 1. Mount St Mary’s Primary School 14 gold medals, 17 silver, 17 bronze
2. Nadi Airport School: 13 gold medals, 16 silver, 7 bronze.
3. Yat Sen Primary School: 12 gold medals, 5 silver, 9 bronze.
Men’s primary school:
Top 3: 1. Mount Saint Mary’s Primary: 20 gold medals, 12 silver, 7 bronze.
2. Marist Brother’s Primary: 17 gold medals, 15 silver, 8 bronze
3. Nadi Airport School: 11 gold, 12 silver, 7 bronze.
