Ryan Pini celebrates a
long-awaited Commonwealth
Games gold for PNG.
When Ryan Pini swam to victory in the Men’s 100m Butterfly on the second last night of the Games Swimming competition, he won Papua New Guinea’s second Commonwealth Games gold medal in 16 years.
Pini finished just ahead of Australia’s Michael Klim in 52.70 and New Zealand’s Moss Burmester in 52.73.
Papua New Guinea has echoed Pini's celebrations, the Post-Courier's front page dedicated to the golden moment with the headline, "Pini grabs gold".
Now being dubbed "golden Pini", the swimmer has already been congratulated in a personal letter from the Prime Minister Grand Chief of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare.
Describing his feelings after the win, Pini said, “Unbelievable. I've been feeling so good in this competition."
He was especially enthusiastic about the crowd support.
“It’s incredible, they cheer for anyone,” he said.
Twenty-four year old Pini grew up in Papua New Guinea, but trains in Brisbane. He was PNG’s Sportsman of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He finished fifth in the Men’s 50m Butterfly semi final at these games and competed in the heats of the Men’s 50m and 100m Freestyle.
PNG's last gold medal at a Commonwealth Games was in Women's Lawn Bowls in Auckland in 1990.
For full results, visit the Aquatics Swimming Schedule and Results section of this Website.