By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
HISTORY was written in the open waters of Fiji this month.
At the XIV Oceania Swimming Championships, held from May 8 to 13, Richard Zhao achieved a milestone for the NMI as the 16-year-old Marianas High School student became the first Micronesian swimmer in NMI history to officially complete and record a finishing time in an elite regional open water event at this level.
Competing in the grueling men’s 5k open water race at Pacific Harbour, Zhao clocked 1:10:04.90 to place seventh overall and cement his name in NMI sports history.
Unlike casual or recreational ocean swims often held in the calm lagoons of Saipan, official international open water races enforce strict pacing standards under an “over time limit” or OTL rule.
In elite competition, the clock does not stop for anyone. If a swimmer fails to finish within a set percentage behind the winner, they are disqualified and marked OTL, with no official time recorded.
The men’s 5k race proved punishing, with six swimmers from regional teams, including competitors from Palau, Guam, Fiji, and NMI’s own Justin Ma, receiving DNF or OTL designations.
As the cut-off loomed, Zhao maintained disciplined pacing under the guidance of NMI swimming coach Hiroyuki Kimura, ensuring he stayed comfortably within the OTL threshold. He finished less than nine minutes behind gold medalist Nael Roux of Tahiti.
Zhao’s performance is even more significant given the team’s preparation challenges leading into the event. The NMI swimming team’s training schedule was heavily disrupted as the islands continue recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
With local infrastructure impacted, the team completed a brief two-night training camp in Japan to prepare for the demanding conditions of the South Pacific.
His gritty performance underscored the resilience of the Marianas swimming program, showing that world-class determination can emerge even without Olympic-standard facilities on island.
Zhao’s breakthrough comes at a critical moment for local sport. Following the typhoon, the upcoming Marianas Games were postponed, and organizers have confirmed that the swimming competition will be limited to open water events due to the lack of a usable pool.
Historically, open water disciplines have received less attention than pool events in local coverage. However, Zhao’s performance in Fiji has helped shift that perception, demonstrating that NMI athletes can compete against regional swimming powerhouses such as Australia, Hawaii, and Tahiti.
Richard Zhao’s performance has set a new benchmark for the discipline in the Marianas.
The open ocean, it seems, is becoming a stage where the NMI is ready to compete.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
