The young swimming team from the Cook Islands is in Palau, filled with high spirits and ready for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.

Chef de Mission Mark Short says, “We have a very young team in swimming and we are grateful that they have made a commitment to represent the Cook Islands at a time when they will be in hot demand by other countries.”

The swim team that is already in Palau are Miya Laban, Carter Makira, Jacob and Alicia Story.

Fourteen year old, Makira has been competing in local swimming competitions since he was 10 years old, he will be competing in the backstroke, medley, freestyle and open water events.

Alicia, 15, will compete in the medley, freestyle and butterfly events.

Jacob had represented the country at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest. The 17-year-old will compete in the backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and medley event.

Laban, 17, will compete in the backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and medley events.

With the games set to begin on June 30, Chef de Mission Mark Short says, “Team Cook Islands is settling well into the Mini Games environment in Palau.”
Short confirmed that swim team coach Horst Miehe and manager Kieran Chand are already in Palau with  Talissa Koteka who is the single women's oe vaka competition.

The beach volleyball and weightlifting athletes were expected to arrive yesterday with the team physio.

Short said that with the opening ceremony happening today, “we are in good spirits”. “The Palau people are extremely kind and helpful and easy to work with in resolving logistic problems.”

Looking at anticipated medal counts, Short said he would prefer to let the athletes focus on their preparation rather than predict the medal outcome.

The opening ceremony will be held today and the sporting events will be held June 30 to July 9 with the closing on July 9.