BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
SOLOMON Islands debutant triathlete William Siau achieved a personal best record in the triathlon Super Sprint and aquathlon individual finals at the XVII Pacific Games 2023, marking an unforgettable experience.
A triathlon is a type of multisport competition that combines three different sports: running, cycling, and swimming. William, 21, told RAW SPORTS that he is confident enough to prepare to represent his country in the 2025 Mini Games and the next Pacific Games in Tahiti, based on his experience in Honiara.
His interest in triathlon was sparked by the gold medal win of Rosefelo Siosi in the 10,000-meter event at the 15th Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
William’s path to represent his country was not as simple as he had anticipated because he was also dedicated to his studies as a Form 7 student in 2023. Later that year, he made the drastic decision to drop out of school in order to continue training with the members of the national triathlon training squad.
“My preparation for the XVII Pacific Games was very short, with poor road conditions and bicycles that were quite old for training. The only thing that kept my conscious from giving up and forced me to accept the difficult circumstances was learning to adjust to myself and to be patient,” the young triathlete said.
William was able to benefit from the high-performance training program offered by the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS) despite the difficulties he had encountered during previous training sessions. Sinis’s intervention was crucial to his preparation for the Pacific Games last year.
“I have gained a lot of experience and confidence competing against the best athletes across the region at the recent Pacific Games in Honiara. There have been a lot of lessons learned based on my strengths and weaknesses, and I have taught myself to have patience, commitment, and discipline in my journey as a triathlete representing my country.
“I think the sport of triathlon in the Solomon Islands will change now that the country has new world-class sports facilities,” he said.
Likewise, William’s participation in the 2023 Pacific Games has provided him with a competitive environment for skill improvement, potentially paving the way for larger international events like the Olympic or Commonwealth Games.
