Vele optimistic on first Olympic appearance
Papua New Guinea swimming sensation Georgia-Leigh Vele will attend her first ever Olympic Games in what she describes as one of the most exhilarating news of a lifetime.
Vele and male counterpart Josh Tarere will compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle category respectively after entering the Paris games via universality placing.
Vele told NBC News that her ultimate goal for the maiden Olympic appearance is to do her utmost best and aspire to make the country proud in the world’s biggest sporting event.
“I’m so excited and honoured to have this opportunity,” she said on representing PNG in Paris.
Despite not qualifying through the 2023 Pacific Games and the Oceania Aquatics, Vele was able to improve her timings, which put her in the spotlight for the Olympics.
She finished third with a time of 29.57 seconds in the 50m butterfly and won bronze in Gold Coast, Australia.
Heading to Paris with her current record of 27.55 seconds in the 50m freestyle, she is eager to take on the challenge against the world’s best swimmers with a goal to better her performance.
“It is a great challenge,” the 25-year-old said on swimming with the top athletes.
“But as athletes you always just have to keep yourself grounded and remember that it is no different than other representative competitions.
“And it is always the goal to do your best, no matter what.
“The swimmers we will be competing against will be much of the same people Josh and I have swum with at competitions like World Championships and Commonwealth Games.”
Vele has had the exposure and opportunity to compete in numerous events abroad with the recent being the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar and Oceania Aquatics.
The Central native said making the Olympic games was one of her childhood dream since she started her swimming career.
She made her way up to be recognized as one of the national figures in the PNG swimming circle.
Vele described the exciting Olympic news as a momentous occasion in her swimming journey.
“At first, finding out, I couldn’t quite believe it. It feels like it has been a very long time coming, and to finally reach this huge goal, I am really pleased,” she said.
Vele has been committed to her training in Gold Coast since the beginning of the year under the guidance of coach Rick Van Der Zant.
Her 50m freestyle event scheduled for next month will be staged at the Paris La Defense Arena.
