SWIMMING RECORDS BROKEN IN OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Ternence Huang

Guam struck waves at the XIV 2026 Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva, Fiji led by Israel Poppe, Amaya Bollinger, and Ocean Campus.

Poppe Breaks Notable Guam Record

Israel Poppe started the championships with one of the top swims of the meet in the Men’s 50-Meter Butterfly.

With a seventh place finish, Poppe swam a fast 25.25, breaking Guam’s 19+ age group record which was held by Guam swimming legend Dan O’Keefe. O’Keefe previously swam a time of 25.56 in which the record has stood since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“I thought that I executed my race plan to the best of my ability and it paid off.” said Poppe

Poppe sets high expectations for future events.

“My goals are to make the next Olympic team and represent our island well. “

Poppe continued his performance placing fifth in the Men’s 200-Meter Freestyle, with a time of 1:58.04.

“After my morning swim in the prelims I felt that I could go even faster in the evening. I was focused on executing my race plan that I practiced everyday and it went how I wanted.”

Poppe carried momentum into Day 2, placing sixth in the Men’s 100-Meter Freestyle Final with a time of 52.99, improving his personal best by 1.34 seconds.

Bollinger Tackles Her own Guam Record

On the women’s side, Amaya Bollinger added another strong performance in the Women’s 50-Meter Butterfly, destroying her own age-group record.

Bollinger previously swam a Guam record of 32.59 but swam a 30.68 to break her record by 1.91 seconds.

Later in the day, Bollinger competed in the Women 200-Meter Butterfly, with a time of 2:33.70, improving her personal best by 1.39 while placing fifth. 

On Day 2, Bollinger placed 14th in the Women’s 100-Meter Freestyle with a time of 1:02.78 while improving her personal best by 2.42 seconds.

Campus Displays Improvements

Ocean Campus adds to Guam’s strong performances in the Men’s 200-Meter Freestyle, placing  12th overall with a time of 2:04.45 as he improves his personal best by 1.53 seconds.

On Day 2, Campus finished first in his heat and 20th overall in the Men’s 100-Meter Freestyle with a time of 55.37 while lowering his personal best by a staggering 1.53 seconds.