Shivneel Narayan/ONOC

We had Team Cook Islands in their first day of competition.  Here’s a look at how our teams and athletes performed:

In the swimming events, Lanihei Connolly from Team Cook Islands took to the pool for the Women's 100m Breaststroke Preliminary Round. Despite finishing 8th in her heat with a time of 1:10.45, her determination and spirit shone brightly. Lanihei recorded a personal best as well as a new national record for her country.  

Tonga’s Alan Uhi competed in the Men's 100m Backstroke Heats, where he finished 6th in his heat, clocking a time of 1:00.62. Alan's participation on this grand stage is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport, and he continues to be an inspiration for aspiring swimmers in Tonga.

In the boxing ring, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali of Team Samoa faced a tough bout in the Men's 92kg Prelims - Round of 16 against Victor Schelstraete from Team Belgium. The second-time Olympian fought bravely but ultimately, Victor Schelstraete secured the win on points, 5-0. Ato's courage and tenacity in the ring remain a source of pride for Samoa.

The Women’s Rugby Sevens Competition kicked off, and Team Fiji had a challenging day in their Pool A matches. In their first match against Canada, the team played a hard-fought game but narrowly missed out, with the final score being Fiji 14 - 17 Canada. The second game were against China and despite their best efforts, the match ended with Fiji falling, 12 – 40.  

As we reflect on the day's performances, we celebrate the dedication and passion of our Oceania athletes. Each event and match highlight our athletes’ commitment to the honor of representing their nations on the world stage. We look forward to more incredible moments and achievements in the days to come at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.