National record holder and Olympic swimmer David Tolu Young has returned from an extended training stint in the United States and will lead Fiji’s charge at the 14th Oceania Swimming Championships in 2026. The 21-year-old from Savusavu says the overseas preparation has given him the fitness and race pace he needs as he targets podium finishes against the region’s best.
“Preparation has been good, I’ve had a good base training from the States, and I hope to swim fast and have some titles won,” Young said, signalling his ambition to convert his international experience into medals. He acknowledged the field will be strong, naming Samoa, Tahiti and Australia among the nations he expects to provide the stiffest competition.
Young arrives at the week-long championships not only as one of Fiji’s leading competitors but as a mentor to a contingent of younger swimmers on the team. He described his role as both competitor and supporter: “It has been great and I love that I can help them out in any way possible especially in the pool, and I always feel-good knowing that I can help them out.” Young’s involvement is aimed at lifting the team’s overall performance while transferring lessons learned from high-performance training abroad.
Team morale appears high, with Young saying the squad is unified and focused on exceeding expectations. “With the whole team together, fairly focusing on their goals, and knowing what needs to be done, they are confident to deliver beyond expectations,” he said. His leadership will be watched closely as Fiji looks to make a strong showing in a regional meet that doubles as an important measuring stick for Pacific swimmers.
Organisers describe the Oceania Championships as bringing together athletes across the Pacific and Oceania, offering crucial international exposure for emerging talents. For Fiji, the meet provides both competitive opportunity and a chance to build depth by exposing younger swimmers to higher-level racing and team dynamics under the guidance of more experienced campaigners like Young.
Young has called on the public to rally behind the team throughout the event. He expressed gratitude to supporters and urged people to come out in numbers to cheer the Fijian swimmers during the championships’ week-long schedule, underscoring the importance of home support even when much of the action is staged abroad.