“Swim for your school, swim for your family and swim for the Lord.”
That was the message from Suva Christian Community Primary school team manager Vivian Elizabeth Bukalidi as the team prepares for the Fiji Primary and Secondary Schools Swimming Championships, which will take place at the Damodar City Aquatic Centre in Suva tomorrow and Saturday.
The school will be taking 12 swimmers to the two-day event with eight girls and four boys – the same number they have consistently taken each year.
In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Bukalidi said the team had been training hard for the past two months, focusing on building up the children’s confidence, discipline and technique in the pool.
“We have three school days training. We train every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week.
“Despite the weather and sickness, the kids have shown commitment and consistency and that is what matters,” she shared.
She said most of the swimmers were experienced competitors who have represented the school in previous competition, while a few are competing for the first times.
“Only one or two are participating in the nationals for the first time this year,” said Bukalidi.
“The rest of them have been part of the team in past years and some of them are also in swim clubs, which has helped them improve a lot,” she said.
The selection for this year’s team was made earlier in the year during the school’s intensive swimming program in term one of school.
“We recorded their personal bests back then and that is how we selected our team. They earned their spots,” she said.
Bukalidi said the school’s main goal for the championships was simple.
“We just want them to do their best. That is all we ask of them,” she said.
“Some years we get medals and some years we don’t. But this year, we’ve reminded them that representing the school is already a big achievement.”
She also reminded her swimmers that they can carry more than just their names in the pool.
“They are not only swimming for themselves. They are representing the school and everything it stands for. That’s something I always remind them,” she said.
She highlighted cold weather and seasonal sickness as some of the main challenges during the preparation.
“When it’s cold, many are absent and lately we’ve had to deal with coughs and flu. But we push through.”
She thanked the parents and the school for their continued support.
“We’re blessed. The support from the school and our parents has been amazing, from team t-shirts to banners and logistics.”
The Suva Christian team now looks ahead to this weekend with faith, focus and high hopes.
The Suva Christian Community School swimming team pose for a photo at their school yesterday. Below: Team manager Elizabeth Bukalidi. Picture: LITIA RITOVA
