OBHS swimmers make waves

By Annika Bokor | Posted: Sunday July 21, 2024

Our talented athletes shine at South Island championships

Three of our rising stars made waves at the recent South Island (SI) Swimming Championships in Christchurch 5-7th July, demonstrating their incredible talents in a unique and competitive setting. Neo Salomonsson, Aleks Kivilev, and Taka Sugiyama, all competing in the 15-16 age group, took on the challenge of the event's exciting format. In a twist from the usual age group finals, the top 8 swimmers in each event, regardless of age, advanced to the evening 'super finals'. This setup showcased a thrilling mix of abilities and provided an exhilarating experience for both the swimmers and spectators.

Neo Salomonsson showcased his strength dominating the butterfly events and setting multiple Otago and SI records. He secured gold in all three fly distances, breaking Otago Records as well as the SI SC championship records for these events. In the 200 butterfly, Neo delivered an exceptional swim, taking 5 seconds off his personal best and not only winning his age group but also being crowned the overall SI champion with the fastest time (2:08.79) among all participants. His goal was to dip under the 26 sec mark in 50 fly and he didn’t disappoint with a time of 25.54. Neo's versatility was on full display as he repeated his success in the 100 IM, where he once again was crowned the overall SI champion and breaking the SI championship record. Neo made it into the ‘super finals’ in all his events but 50m free where he qualified for the age group final. He did however smash it out in his age group final and settled with a big 50 free PB of 24.61. In addition to his gold medals, Neo earned silver in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 50 backstroke events, achieving personal bests in all. ‘Sacrificing’ all that hair to be able to fit the racing dome cap was worth it. Neo also put his hand up to be available for the South Island mixed relay team selection. Him and his 16-strong team finished 3rd overall after a relay battle each day with seven other teams.

Taka Sugiyama took on six events, and in true Taka style, tackled multiple longer distances, including all the IM and breaststroke events. Taka illustrated the importance of good breaststroke by qualifying for the super final in all the IM events. His swims were nothing short of impressive, taking over 3 seconds off his 200 IM time, touching the wall at 2:15.03, and earning himself a silver medal. He replicated this feat in the 400 IM, shaving over 4 seconds off his time to secure another silver. Taka qualified 2nd in 200 breast for his age group but chose not to swim it to focus on the 400 IM. Taka also qualified for the super final in the 50 and 100 breast events. While he produced a small personal best in the 50 breast, it was his 100 breast swim that truly stood out. With a time of 1:10.21, Taka achieved a long-sought-after personal best, breaking into the 1:10 range, and almost dipping below this magical threshold. Although Taka didn’t quite reach the podium in 100 IM, 50 and 100 breast, he placed 4th in these events. This demonstrates that his dedication, hard work, and extra training in the pool have undoubtedly paid off, reflecting his unwavering commitment and passion for the sport. Taka is a great example of what can be achieved with perseverance and a positive attitude.

Our other strong male breaststroker, Aleks Kivilev, showcased his talent by competing in the shorter IM and breaststroke events. Aleks qualified for the age-group finals in the 200 and 100 IM, as well as the 50 breast. He maintained his PB times in most events, except for the 200 IM, where he shaved off an impressive two seconds. With a new time of 2:18.06, Aleks demonstrated his excellent technique across all strokes, which came together beautifully in the IMs. Aleks also qualified 3rd in his age group for the 100 breast final but chose not to swim it to put his focus on the 100 IM final. While Aleks didn't race on day two, he played the role of a great big brother, watching over his younger sibling while his sister competed, and his mum officiated. Aleks' dedication to both his sport and his family was evident, making him a standout both in and out of the pool.

South Island Short Course Championship Results Summary:

Neo Salomonsson

· GOLD – 50 fly (Otago and South Island Championship Age group record)

· GOLD – 100 fly (Otago and South Island Championship Age group record)

· GOLD – 200 fly (Otago and South Island Championship Age group record & Overall South Island Champion across all age groups)

· GOLD – 100 IM (South Island Championship Age group record & Overall South Island Champion across all age groups)

· SILVER – 50 back

· SILVER – 50 free

· SILVER – 100 free

Taka Sugiyama

· SILVER – 200 IM

· SILVER – 400 IM