IN 1991 when Papua New Guinea last hosted the Pacific Games, a 15-year-old swimmer from Fiji had his first experience of the competition.
Now 24-years later, Carl Probert is back in Port Moresby and would be taking to the pools and competing in the sprint events at the Taurama Aquatic Centre.
“It is funny. I started my Pacific Games career in PNG and I never realised that I would be looking to end it here,” Probert said.
“I was not really meant to compete but I had been reaching fast times in the sprints so I thought why not, one more time. It will be interesting when swimming starts. Watching the young swimmers and even one or two whom I have swam against from 1995 onwards, it would definitely be quite a memorable experience.”
Probert will compete in the 50m and the 100m freestyle and backstroke events and also in the sprints relay.
When questioned about Fiji’s chances of medals, Probert said things would become clearer once the competition starts.
“We have very able swimmers and some of them do stand a chance of winning a medal. But anything can happen on competition day,” he said.
“We have some very young swimmers with their first Pacific Games experience.”
For Probert, a medal would be the perfect retirement gift.
* Pacific Games coverage courtesy of BSP
