11 Jul 2019

Sport: New Caledonia swimmers continue to shine in Samoa

10:44 am on 11 July 2019

Another dominant evening in the pool has maintained New Caledonia's medals lead after three days of action at the Pacific Games.

The French territory won six more events at the Samoa Aquatic Centre last night to take their gold medal haul to 15, including 11 in swimming alone.

New Caledonia's Maiana Flament secured her second gold and third medal of the week in the women's 400m individual medley, while compatriot Julien Pierre Goyetche touched home first in the men's 50m backstroke.

The 2011 Pacific Games champions also struck gold in the men's and women's 4x200m relays, while Thibaut Mary and May Toven were victorious in the 100m butterfly.

Host nation Samoa continued their strong showing in the water with Lushavel Stickland winning the women's 50m backstroke while Brandon Schuster secured his second gold medal in as many days in the men's 400m medley.

Tahiti won five of the six Va'a races at Mulifanua, with New Caledonia denying their Francophone rivals a clean sweep by taking out the men's V6 500.

The Tahitians also found success in table tennis, winning the men's team event with Vanuatu taking out the women's title.

Australia won their first medals of the week in weightlifting, with flag-bearer Erika Yamasaki and Kiana Elliott picking up three golds apiece in the women's 59kg and 64kg divisions, while New Zealand's Megan Signal managed a silver and two bronze medals in the latter event.

Morea Baru completed a clean sweep of the men's 61kg division to double Papua New Guinea's gold medal haul to six.

Fiji added gold medals in badminton, in the mixed team event, and in lawn bowls in the men's triples, while Litia Tikoisuva won the women's singles final.

Samoa defeated Fiji in the men's pairs final while Norfolk Island pipped Niue to win their first gold medal in the women's fours.

Tokelau got themselves on the medal table with a bronze in the men's pairs event.

Meanwhile New Zealand archers Olivia Hodgson and Adam Kaluzny have beaten Australia 5-4 in the final of the Continental Qualification Tournament being held alongside the Pacific Games, to secure a mixed team quota spot for the Tokyo Olympics.

The action continue on Thursday with the indoor volleyball competition the latest sport to get its programme underway.