FIJI’S top swimming contender for the Olympic Games has set his focus on the next qualifiers in April.
Taichi Vakasama is seconds away from the qualifying time for the Tokyo Olympics.
His time of 1:02.62 in the 100m breaststroke was achieved at the AON NZ Open Championships, while 2:14.98 in the 200m breaststroke and 2:07.84 in the 200m individual medley were gold medal swims at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
His 400m individual medley time of 4:38.91 was achieved at the Fiji Games Open.
His best time in the 100m breaststroke is 1 minute 02 seconds while the ‘A’ Olympics qualifying time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is 51.96sec and the Olympics selection time is 1min 01sec.
He is confident he will qualify for an Olympic Games spot through hard work and discipline.
“At the last Olympics I was unfortunately underage, but I am confident that I will qualify for the Olympics come April,” he said.
The 20-year-old Japan-born Vanuabalavu swimmer started swimming when he was nine years old.
Balancing studies and training is normal for Taichi and he says he just keeps imagining himself becoming faster and a better athlete.
Vakasama studies medicine at the University of Fiji As the current Pacific Games record holder of the 200m breaststroke, Vakasama hopes to make the Olympics by keeping track of his times to see where he would need to improve.
“Being an athlete has helped me improve my time management skills and keeps me fit and healthy.
“Participating in sports automatically improves athletes’ manners and discipline through sportsmanship.”
