Ryan John PiniMBE is a 4-time Olympic swimmer from Papua New Guinea. He swam for PNG at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics; also serving as the PNG flagbearer in 2008 and 2016. He is the first PNG swimmer ever to reach an Olympic final. Pini competes for the Boroko Swim Club.
International career
2002 Commonwealth Games
At his first ever Commonwealth Games, Pini made the semifinal in all 4 events contested
At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Pini became just the second individual from Papua New Guinea to win an individual gold medal at any Olympic or Commonwealth Games, when he won the Men's 100m Butterfly. In doing so, Pini also won Papua New Guinea's first ever swimming medal at an Olympic or Commonwealth Games. His winning time of 52.64 was enough to edge out Michael Klim of Australia and Moss Burmester of New Zealand. Pini also competed in the final of the Men's 50m Butterfly, finishing fifth, and made the semifinal of the Men's 100m Freestyle.
Pini competed in the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne. He reached the 100m Butterfly and 50m Butterfly semifinals. He competed in the heats of the 100m Freestyle.
Pini was the flag bearer for Papua New Guinea at the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Pini ranked first in the third heat of the Men's 100m Freestyle, but did not make a qualifying time for the semifinals. He also competed in heats for the 200m Freestyle. Pini competed in the Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 100m Butterfly, where he was Papua New Guinea's most widely anticipated chance at attaining a first Olympic medal. He competed in the finals, and finished 8th overall, in a tough line up which included American big fish Michael Phelps, who took gold. Pini was the first Papua New Guinean ever to swim an Olympic final.
2010 Commonwealth Games
100m Butterfly
Pini won Silver in 100m Butterfly Finals in a time of 52.50. Pini also competed in the final of the Men's 50m Butterfly, finishing 5th in a time of 23.88. Pini qualified for the 100m Freestyle Semifinal but had to pull out due to illness and to concentrate on the 50m Butterfly Final.
Pini competed in the 100 m Butterfly event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He finished in 30th place in the heats with a time of 53.24 seconds. He did not advance to the semifinals.
Training
Pini trains under super coach Rick Van Der Zant and alongside ex Australian swimming representative Andrew Mewing. His other training partners include Jackson Van Der Zant, Sam James, Adam Hosking, and Josh Smith.
Early life
Pini was born and raised in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and is the third youngest of four children. His parents Kevin and Sarenah Pini own a family business, Theodist, based in PNG. Pini began swimming at the age of six and attended lessons at Boroko Amateur Swimming Club. By the age of six, he held a national record for his age group. Graduating from Port Moresby International High School in 1999, Pini then moved to Brisbane to further his studies and to eventually pursue his swimming career. Shoulder injuries have hindered Pini, with his fourth shoulder operation done in January 2011.
