FIJI’s Matelita Buadromo managed two Pacific Games silver medals while Caroline Puamau settled for a bronze at the end of the first day of swimming at the Taurama Aquatics Centre in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea last night.
Puamau and Buadromo were tipped for gold and silver medals after having the two fastest times in heats of the women’s 100m freestyle but New Caledonia’s 16-year-old Emma Terebo had kept her best for the finals.
Terebo pipped the two Fiji swimmers to win gold with a time of 57.46s while Buadromo finished the race on 58.29s and Puamau on 58.9s.
Buadromo, who had won her individual 400m medley heat in the day, knew that she would be settling for silver in the final because New Caledonia’s Lara Grangeon had set a new Pacific Games record of 4m49.05s.
Grangeon then smashed her own record in the final by setting a time of 4m47.07s. Buadromo finished second with a time of 5m24.09s.
Buadromo said she was happy to have won silver medals for Fiji.
“I am happy with the times I have done today. I am looking forward to more events in the coming days and hopefully win a gold medal,” she said.
* Pacific Games coverage courtesy of BSP
