The Samoa Swimming Federation has awarded 10 Swimming Scholarships for swimmers who are training for the Pacific Games and beyond. With the financial assistance of the FINA Aquatics Olympic Support Programme, the Federation was able to offer scholarships to recognized dedicated swimmers to assist them with coaching fees, training facility fees, nutrition supplementation and transportation. The General Secretary, Ms Kerrie Punivalu, explains that thus far parents have been fully subsidizing their children in training, transport, nutrition support and facility fees. “These swimmers are highly committed to their discipline of competitive swimming. We wish to recognize their efforts as well as their parent’s commitment in supporting the young athletes in achieving their short and long term goals. We are building a stronger base of junior swimmers as well as our development squad in preparation for the games in 2019 and beyond. ”National Coach, Suzie Schuster, further adds that it is imperative that those who are committed and show promise in competition are rewarded within the system. “Many times funding is received to develop solely at grassroots level or the elite performers. This funding not only allows for those audiences (grassroots and elite) to be supported, but it also supports the development squad who is our immediate group of dedicated athletes for swimming for Samoa. It is the swimmers who commit to twice daily training sessions, before school, after school and weekends, that need the additional financial support to assist them with nutrition needs as well as offset some costs for their families. Swimming is by no means a cheap sport, but with this financial assistance, families can tend to the needs of the elite athlete directly. We want to be an athlete-focussed federation and this is one way we are able to address that.”3 types of scholarships have been awarded- Senior, Junior and Village. Village scholarships have been awarded to 2 swimmers from the Saoluafata Swim Club and their training is dedicated to ocean training and pool training on the weekends. All junior and senior scholarship holders are committed to a mandatory 12 -14 training sessions at the pool under the National coach in addition to dryland training such as running, weight training or cycling. Swimmers are required to complete daily nutrition and training journal entries with the intention of receiving on-going education on sports nutrition, athlete training sets, SMART goals setting and recovery sessions. Each scholarship covers a 10-12 week term and is renewable based on performance and end of term fitness testing. The SSF OASP scholarship holders for term 3 2018 are:
Village Scholarship Holders (Lt to Rt)
Ronnye Iosafatu Anoama’a College
Laupou Pimoe Anoama’a College
Junior Scholarship Holders
Pitapola Ioane Le Amosa School
Urlin Mulitalo RLSS
Jordan Tanielu Stowers Samoa Primary School
Palepua Afoa Manumalo School
Senior Scholarship Holders
Sitivi Sooaemalelagi National University of Samoa, Foundation
Andrea Schuster RLSS
Gideon Mulitalo RLSS
Durant Webster RLSS