Olympic gold medallist Duncan Armstrong has urged Fijian parents to take a stronger role in steering young people away from what he called today’s “high‑risk distractions”, saying sport offers the routine and discipline that can keep children focused on positive pathways. Armstrong made the comments as the Ocean Swim Fiji annual event took place in Nadi this week, using the gathering to highlight swimming’s wider benefits for youth development and public health.
“There’s a lot of distractions out there for our youth and our young people – drugs, sex, rock and roll, you name it, and this is where sport can play a really good part because what sport gives you is a routine,” Armstrong said, stressing that greater responsibility now lies with parents to guide children amid a widening array of negative influences. He singled out rising screen time among children as “one of the biggest challenges facing young people today,” and encouraged families to limit excessive digital use in favour of structured physical activity.
The focus on swimming at Ocean Swim Fiji this week also drew testimony from New Zealand‑based recreational competitive swimmer Craig Gregory, who framed the sport as both safe and sustainable for long‑term health. Gregory, who has undergone multiple surgeries during his sporting career, said medical advice consistently pointed him toward low‑impact exercise such as swimming as a path to recovery and injury prevention.
“It’s just an amazing, amazing sport to get into. Very easy on the body. I’ve had multiple surgeries, multiple crashes. I’ve had two spinal surgeries and three knee surgeries. All the surgeons say, don’t run, just swim. So that’s what I do,” Gregory said, underscoring the role of swimming in preserving physical function while reducing strain on joints and the spine.
Organisers and health advocates at the Nadi event emphasised swimming’s therapeutic benefits beyond physical rehabilitation. Coaches and volunteers pointed to improvements in cardiovascular fitness, mobility and, importantly, mental wellbeing — an argument that bolsters Armstrong’s contention that sport can be a constructive outlet for young people who might otherwise be drawn to riskier pastimes. The annual swim attracted participants across ages, reinforcing its role as both a community event and a platform for health promotion.
Armstrong’s message arrives against a backdrop of continued efforts across Fiji to broaden youth access to sport. Community programmes, school competitions and individual athletes preparing for regional qualifiers all illustrate how early engagement in sport can create structure and opportunity. For families and policymakers, his remarks serve as a reminder that sporting pathways require parenting support, safe facilities and affordable access if they are to counteract the lure of sedentary, screen‑centred habits.
With the Ocean Swim Fiji event having drawn attention to low‑impact aquatic exercise this week in Nadi, organisers hope the conversation will translate into sustained community action — from parents setting limits on screen time to local clubs expanding swim programmes — that supports both the physical recovery needs highlighted by Gregory and the broader social and developmental benefits championed by Armstrong.