Cook Islands swimmers gave Team Cook Islands the best start at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, scooping four medals, including a gold, on the first day of competition on Monday (local time).

On day one, 17-year-old Jacob Story, the golden boy, won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke final then went on to win silver in the 100m individual medley event, just 0.83 seconds shy of back-to-back gold medals.

According to The Reporters’ Academy, Story, who trains in Auckland with Mount Eden Swim Club, powered to gold with a blistering new personal best time of 2:13:71, seeing off the nearest competition by over 5 seconds. 

But it was his medal ceremony that truly moved hearts. A technical glitch meant our national anthem didn’t play. Without hesitation, Team Cook Islands members in the crowd stood tall and sang it acapella. No backing track, just voices filled with pride and love.

Standing emotional on the podium, with gold around his neck and surrounded by the mana of his people, Story watched as spectators in the stands applauded Team Cook Islands for the anthem sung with passion and pride.

“I was so nervous coming into it. I didn’t know what to expect. We had our Nationals last week, so my training has been a little disrupted, so I didn’t know what to expect,” Story told The Reporters’ Academy.

“I’m just so happy that I’ve been able to do that. My main objective was just to come here and win it for my country, for my family, and for myself. I’m just so grateful.”

Story said he and his coach had worked on the individual medley a lot in training, but breaststroke was still his favourite event.

He said winning medals on the first day has given him a lot of confidence for the rest of the games.

“I started representing the Cook Islands in 2024, and I’m just so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. My support group is just so amazing. My family, they’re watching at home,” Story said.

“I’m just so grateful to have been able to put on the Cook Islands flag.”

Leading the charge in the aquatics medal tally was Mia Laban, just 17 years old, who earned Team Cook Islands’ first medal with a bronze in the 50m backstroke. Later that evening, she returned to the pool and secured a silver in the 100m individual medley. SUPPLIED/25063004

Seventeen-year-old Mia Laban won Team Cook Islands’ first medal, a bronze, in the 50m backstroke. She then went on to win silver in the 100m individual medley final. Laban had an unforgettable night, digging deep, rising to the occasion and carrying the hopes of her nation with grace and grit.

According to The Reporters’ Academy, after qualifying 4^th in the morning heats with a time of 1:08.04 minutes, Laban improved by over a second to propel herself into the silver medal position with 1:06.88 when it counted in the final.

Speaking about representing the Cook Islands after her swim she commented, “It’s always nice to wear my country's flag on my cap.”

Carter Makira broke his personal best in the 50m backstroke with a time of 20.75 seconds. At only 14 years old, he is at his first international competition and proud to be representing the Cook Islands.

Alicia Story made the finals in 400m freestyle. This is also her first time joining Team Cook Islands at an international game.

Yesterday, Makira participated in the 100m butterfly event, 50m breaststroke and 400m individual medley and Jacob competed in 50m breaststroke while Laban and Alicia swam in the 100m butterfly.

The Pacific Island Girls at 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau in oe vaka/va’a (outrigger canoeing), Talissa Koteka (2nd left) proudly represented the Cook Islands for the first time and delivered a strong performance in the 500m V1 sprint final, finishing 5th overall. SUPPLIED/25063033

Cook Islands paddler Talissa Koteka is participating in her first Mini Games in the oe vaka outrigger sport and made it to the finals for her 500 metres V1 race.

Eventually finishing fifth overall, it was huge accomplishment for her as it was her first time competing in sprint.

Meanwhile national weightlifters Etoa Puni and Matanoko “Noko” McDonald are currently training and getting ready for their competition.

The team has also been able to visit other competition venues to support our Cook Islands athletes.

Weightlifting always brings in a huge crowd during the games so the team expect a massive turn out to come in and support the lifters.