Petero Okotai
Encyclopedia
Petero James Moeava Okotai (born 3 August 1981) is a Cook Islands
swimmer.
He grew up in Papua New Guinea
where he began swimming at the age of 5, then stopped upon returning to the Cook Islands at the age of 11, due to the absence of a pool. He then resumed swimming in 2006, while studying for an honours degree in business management at the University of Auckland
, in New Zealand
, which he completed in 2010.
He competed in the men's 50 metre freestyle event
at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
in Melbourne
, and finished 157th out of 175, with a time of 29.54.
He then represented his country
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, competing in the men's 100 metre breaststroke event.
With no Olympic-sized pool to train in, Okotai initially practiced by swimming in a lagoon
, where he had to "deal with the hazards of trigger fish, coral heads and ocean currents". He later trained in the Muri Beach Club Hotel pool on Rarotonga
. The pool measured 17 metres, and Okotai had to swim among tourists.
He finished third and last in heat 1, his time of 1:20.20 the slowest of all competitors who finished the race, and almost eight seconds slower than second-slowest Mohammed Al-Habsi, of Oman
. This prompted Okotai to comment: "I hope I'm not Eric the Eel."
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
swimmer.
He grew up in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
where he began swimming at the age of 5, then stopped upon returning to the Cook Islands at the age of 11, due to the absence of a pool. He then resumed swimming in 2006, while studying for an honours degree in business management at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, which he completed in 2010.
He competed in the men's 50 metre freestyle event
Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships - Men's 50 m freestyle
The men's 50 metre freestyle event was the 28th event contested of the swimming events at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships at the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia. The heats were held in the morning session of the meet on 30 March 2007, with the semifinals in the evening session of the...
at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
2007 World Aquatics Championships
The 2007 World Aquatics Championships or the XII FINA World Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia from 17 March to 1 April 2007...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and finished 157th out of 175, with a time of 29.54.
He then represented his country
Cook Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics
The Cook Islands sent a team to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The country sent four athletes to the Games.-Track & Road:-Field Events:- Swimming :- Weightlifting :Men...
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, competing in the men's 100 metre breaststroke event.
With no Olympic-sized pool to train in, Okotai initially practiced by swimming in a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
, where he had to "deal with the hazards of trigger fish, coral heads and ocean currents". He later trained in the Muri Beach Club Hotel pool on Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
. The pool measured 17 metres, and Okotai had to swim among tourists.
He finished third and last in heat 1, his time of 1:20.20 the slowest of all competitors who finished the race, and almost eight seconds slower than second-slowest Mohammed Al-Habsi, of Oman
Oman at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Oman competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.The country sent a female athlete to the Olympic Games for the first time. Buthaina Yaqoubi represented Oman in the women's 100m sprint.- Athletics:- Shooting:Men...
. This prompted Okotai to comment: "I hope I'm not Eric the Eel."