PNG’s time to shine in pool
NOBODY can accuse Australian Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 200m individual medley swimmer Rick van der Zant of not giving back to his sport.
For the past 22 years van der Zant has been the head coach of the Papua New Guinea swim team, dividing his time between his Brisbane home and PNG in his quest to develop the sport and increase that country’s participation at major meets.
In the past 12 months he has travelled to PNG four times to get his young charges ready for last year’s Oceania Games, these Arafura Games and the Pacific Games in Samoa this July.
He has brought a contingent of 13 swimmers to Darwin – seven from Lae and six from Port Moresby – to form their national team.
But he says there remain plenty of challenges for those wanting to participate in swimming in PNG.
“In PNG the development of swimming is going well, but it’s tough because kids have to travel from long distances to get to the pool,” van der Zant said.
“They often don’t have the transport or facilities we take for granted here in Australia.
“(For instance) in Lae there is a strong community of swimmers, but they must swim in a very old 25-metre school pool which is very dilapidated, but the swimmers get by.
“Fortunately, in Port Moresby there is a brand-new pool that was built four years ago for the Pacific Games, which is state of the art and similar to Parap.”
Van der Zant said there were some great coaches in PNG, nurturing young ones and encouraging them to stay in the sport.
“Once they stay, they realise the opportunities swimming presents and really enjoy what they’re doing,” he said.
“Kids don’t really get taught swimming at school, just the lucky ones. Some schools take kids, but it costs money.”
Van der Zant said Arafura is a great news story for the PNG youngsters who made it to the Games, the youngest being 15.
“For four or five of the PNG team, this the first time they have ever travelled out of PNG,” he said.
“One or two of the kids only got their visas the day before, but they’re here and they’re very excited.”
And they are travelling in experienced company, swimming and training alongside the matriarch of the squad, 27year-old London 2012 Olympic Games 50m participant and former Arafura Games swimmer Judith Meauri.