Ryan Pini

Pini represented the country in swimming with an amazing record career spanning 28 years where he appeared in four Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games, five Pacific Games, including several other standalone international events. 

The 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Olympian knows too well what it takes and how much sacrifice you have to endure to get to where you want to be.

Speaking at the Pacific AusSports Paris 2024 and Paris Olympic Partnership launch today, Pini said he’s delighted to be selected and honoured to be leading the Team PNG to Paris in July.

Nominated by World Aquatics, formerly known as the International Swimming Federation or FINA, Pini was appointed by a panel after being vetted through a lengthy process as part of a series of governance reforms designed to strengthen athletes’ representation within the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) earlier in 2022, and elected as Chair of the WADA Athlete Council in March 2023. 

The election was done online following the Athlete Council’s first meeting at the WADA Symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

With his experience as an athlete, Pini acknowledges the PNG Olympic Committee’s unique perspective on team management and the hard work that goes into it.

Having moved to the administrative side, Pini appreciates the critical role the sponsorship plays in the organization's engine room, which is always buzzing with activity.

Pini noted the vast amount of information exchanged between the IOC, Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, and all stakeholders involved, but he praised the team's remarkable job in getting athletes to perform their best.

The company has provided financial assistance to the PNG Olympics Committee (PNGOC) and actively participated in coaching, team management, and officiating at international events.

Theodist's continuous involvement and support of PNGOC led to the appointment of Ryan Pini, the company's Corporate Development Manager and four-time Olympian for Team PNG, as Chef de Mission to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.

Supporting him will be Lua Rikis as the Deputy Chairperson.

Pini was the Deputy Chairperson in the last term of the PNGAC which ended in July this year. He takes over from Karo Lelai who has served two terms.

Former PNG Pepes captain, Rikis, is also serving her second term as a member of the PNGAC with this being her first time on it in the leadership seat.

Election for the Chair and Deputy Chair of the PNGAC was held as part of the induction facilitated by the PNG Olympic Committee for the 11 new members who were recently voted in.

PNG’s swimmers- Ryan Pini and Ashley Seeto contested in five and four events respectively.

In his two main events, Seeto, who competed in the 30-34 years category, placed 6th in the 50m Breaststroke with a Personal Best time and 7th in the 100m Breaststroke, only 0.02 off from his Personal Best time.

Pini showed what a true champion he is. From his five events, Pini won Gold in the 50m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke, Silver in the 50m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle and 5th place in the 100m Butterfly.

This follows a new partnership between the United Nations in Papua New Guinea and the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee to promote the global goals.

The athletes, namely Ryan Pini (swimming), Lua Rikis (netball), Tania Mairi Mahuru (shooting), Christopher Amini (cricket) and Milton Kisapai (hockey) will be delivering messages about the global goals through sports events, educational programs by the Olympic Committee, and media channels, to raise awareness and encourage people to stand up for the goals. 

Pini, who has represented PNG for over 20 years said events like the Trukai Fun Run have been a huge benefit for the men and women of Team PNG.

He gave an example saying Team PNG’s participation at the Rio 2016 Olympics was made possible through the support of Trukai Industries and people buying Fun Run T-shirts.

 “I would really like to appeal once again to the corporate community to out their hands up and bid for T-shirts at the auction for Team PNG and for schools.

The Australian event is a lead up to the World Short Course championships in December to be hosted in Canada.

Pini told Loop PNG that preparations are going well following the PNG National Short Course championships held earlier this month in Port Moresby where he competed in a number of events.

This was the first racing he had done since the Olympics and used it as a trial to see where he was at.

“I raced well at the National Titles but I felt I needed improvements in my speed component,” Pini said.

Currently back home in PNG and helping out the family business, Pini has opened a new chapter in his life following his retirement from the pool after Rio.

“It’s very different from being in the pool to sitting behind the desk but I enjoy it and get to work alongside my brothers,” said Pini.

Currently the athlete’s representative in the Oceania Olympic Committee (OOC) Pini travels around the Pacific region gauging views from athletes and presenting those views to the Pacific Games Council Board which in turn proceeds to the OOC.