Sereana Salalo/PACNEWS

The US-based swimmer left his island home in Majuro, Marshall Islands about five years ago to study, and train for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

That was the sacrifice made by the 26-year-old who won his heat and clocked a personal best time of 27.43 in the Men’s 50m Freestyle Swimming at Paris La Defense Arena.

“I was just thinking about the underwater, I just sprinted and went all out,” he said.

“It’s a different environment here, fans are crazy and it’s exciting.”

The two-time Olympian transitioned from 25-yard saltwater pool in the Marshall Islands to the US which helped in his swimming.

“My biggest sacrifice was leaving my family back home especially my mum, she’s by herself.

“Hopefully I make her proud.

“It is a tremendous honour and experience to represent my country, not a lot of opportunities is given to Marshallese kids to represent swimming in Olympics,” Kinono said.

Two other Pacific swimmers, David Young from Fiji and Palau’s Jion Hosei also swam in the same event.

“For us swimmers from the Oceania we’re like a family here and we have been close.”

Kinono attends Iowa Lakes Community College (USA).