Fiji’s top swimmers have one last chance to secure their place on the international stage as the three-day Open National Championships gets underway, serving as the final qualification event for next month’s Oceania Championships.

Fiji Aquatics Vice President West Errol Taylor confirmed that the competition is a crucial step in finalising the national squad, with the selection window closing at the end of the meet on Sunday.

A total of 31 swimmers are competing at the championships, including overseas-based athletes from New Zealand and a visiting competitor from Canada, adding an international edge to the local contest.

Due to the high qualifying standards set for the Open Nationals, participation has been largely limited to senior swimmers, with only those meeting the stringent times earning a spot in the pool.

Taylor noted early signs of strong performances, with several personal bests already recorded in the opening events, highlighting the athletes’ readiness despite the smaller field.

“Our Open Nationals usually have tougher qualifying times, so the number of swimmers is smaller and mainly our senior athletes feature, but from what I’ve seen so far, there have been some personal bests which is encouraging.”

While Fiji Aquatics has provisionally targeted a squad of 24 swimmers for the Oceania Championships, final selections will depend entirely on athletes meeting the required benchmarks by the end of the competition.

The stakes are even higher this year, with Fiji set to host the Oceania Championships next month, an event that also doubles as a qualifying pathway for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

With selection spots on the line and international opportunities within reach, the Open Nationals has set the stage for an intense and decisive weekend in the pool.

The Oceania Swimming Championships starts on May 8th to 13th in Suva and will be LIVE on FBC.