TOKYO, 06 AUGUST 2021 --- Not a well-publicised event but an important stepping stone for both the athlete and the nation. The 22-year-old is at the beginning of his journey as an athlete with a promising career in front of him. 

He had a bumpy road in the lead up to the Games, but he managed to secure his spot under the universality system which allows a nation with no Olympic swimming qualifier to enter up to one man and one woman into the Games. 

Ryan is PNG’s top ranked swimmer and in 2017 he was named Junior Sportsman of the Year in PNG, the former being his entry point into the Games.‍

Challenges on the road to Tokyo‍

On his road to the Tokyo Olympics, Maskelyne said, ‘Last year I spent nine weeks out of the water due to COVID-19 lockdowns. 

‘However, since June 2020 I have been very lucky, given that I live and train in Queensland, and have not missed much more training due to the pandemic since. 

‘The hardest thing for me was not knowing whether the Olympics would go ahead given the current circumstances and having to push myself through this.

‘I eventually qualified to compete at the Tokyo Olympics through the universality program, giving representation to my country.’

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On competition in Tokyo, on stepping on to the world stage

‍Maskelyne said, ‘Every day in the lead up to my race I was nervous, until the day of my race. 

‘In the warmup pool and final call room I was calm and having fun, talking with my competitors. 

‘But, as soon as I walked out on pool deck, the nerves hit me again, but in a good way, I wasn't scared, I was excited.’

He also shared that unlike other sports where competitors performed in front of an empty stadium, he had an audience in the form of other swimmers.

He said, ‘I was lucky to be competing in swimming where most of the competitors stayed to watch the heats and cheer their teammates on, so for me it wasn't quite an empty stadium.’‍

On his best experience in Tokyo‍

The swimmer shared that he appreciated many things in Tokyo.

‘In the [Olympic] village, it’s hard to just pick one thing, meeting all the athletes at the dining hall and learning where they were from and what sport they were competing in is something that sticks out for me.  

‘At the Games, Racing. I love racing, and to be able to compete on the world’s biggest stage and do a personal best was unreal.’‍

What the future holds‍

Like many young athletes, Ryan Maskelyne said he has plans to remain in sport and make it to other upcoming games and competition.

‘Seeing how fast it took to make the semi-finals in my event has lit a fire in me, I am now more motivated than ever to get back into training and improve myself. 

‘I plan on competing at the Commonwealth Games next year, as well as the Pacific Games in 2023, and hopefully, depending on where I am at with my swimming, Paris in 2024.’

Maskelyne said that the two words that come to mind on how it feels to represent his family and country were honour and pride.

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Ryan Maskelyne is supported through the PacificAus Sports Partnership Program. Find out more here.