Five-time Olympian Carl Probert believes that turning professional is essential for sports like swimming to not only qualify for the Olympic Games on merit but also to win medals.
David Tolu Young and Anahira McCutcheon will represent Fiji at the 2024 Paris Olympics, both securing places through universality slots.
Although Fiji has participated in swimming in past Olympics, no athlete has ever returned with a medal.
Probert, who swam for Fiji in the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics, argues that the sport needs to professionalize to achieve gold.
“I think we just have to get to a point where sports is a profession not only for the athletes but mainly for the entourage, the sports staff. When the coaches, physios, nutritionists are paid full time then I think we will start to see the level of performance really change,” he said.
The existence of the Fijian Drua rugby team offers hope that other sports can soon professionalize.
“It makes such a massive difference for all sports in general because we can lean on paid professionals at the top level to share their expertise and skill to other sports. Once all the sports have paid professionals, it will make a huge difference,” the national record holder added.
Probert, who was 16 during his first Olympic outing, said swimmers like 15-year-old McCutcheon prove that age is just a number when it comes to reaching the pinnacle of sports.
“If you set your mind to it, stay focused, you can achieve quite a lot. Stay humble and just be grateful for all the opportunities given to you and be prepared to help other people after you.”
Probert is currently the president of the Fiji Olympians Association.