Team Cook Islands’ golden swimmer Wesley Roberts has once again made his mark, securing the country’s first gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands on Sunday night.

Roberts triumphed in the men’s 400-metre freestyle, leaving Tahiti’s Nael Roux with silver and New Caledonian John-William Dabin with bronze.

He finished the race with a time of 3 minutes 58.41 seconds. Roux clocked 3:58.81 minutes followed by Dabin in 3:58.86 minutes in a closely contested and intense final.

Speaking to Cook Islands News after competing in the 200-metre preliminary event yesterday, where he secured fourth place and was set to compete in the finals last night, Roberts expressed his excitement about the gold medal win and the camaraderie within Team Cook Islands.

Team Cook Islands supporters brought their drums and injected an exciting Cook Islands vibe into the final race.

“For the boys to bring the drums as well, I was kind of put under a bit of pressure and needed to get something done,” the Australia-based Wesley, who hails from Atiu, said.

“It was a good race, and it (drum beats) kind of built my way into it and to get my hand on the wall first.
“It’s pretty special to look up and see everyone excited and to see posts on Instagram and Facebook and see all the videos of people yelling at their TVs.

Roberts aims to surpass his previous Pacific Games record of one gold medal and four other medals.

“If I can beat that at these championships, I think that’ll be a job well done.”

Roberts also acknowledged the unwavering support from his home island of Atiu, his parents and his sister in Enuamanu, and his extended family in New Zealand and Australia.

He was eyeing his second medal in the 200m individual medley final last night.
Later in the week, Roberts will be participating in the 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle and the 50m butterfly events.
Meanwhile, Lanihei Connolly, another promising swimmer, also qualified for the finals in the 50m breaststroke last night.

Connolly will compete in the 50-metre freestyle today and the 100m breaststroke tomorrow.

She expressed her excitement about representing Cook Islands and hopes to earn her first Pacific Games medal.

• Losirene Lacanivalu in Honiara, Solomon Islands