Ryan John Pini (born 10 December 1981 in
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) is a 2-time Olympic swimmer from
Papua New Guinea. He swam for PNG at the
2004 and
2008 Olympics; also serving as the PNG
flagbearer in 2008. He is the first PNG swimmer ever to reach an Olympic final.
While Pini grew up in Papua New Guinea, he currently trains primarily in
Brisbane, Australia, and competes for the Yeronga Park Swim Club.
International career
2004 Summer Olympics
Pini competed in the 100 m Butterfly at the
2004 Summer Olympics, finishing 18th.
2006 Commonwealth Games
At the
2006 Commonwealth Games, Pini became the 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 100 m 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 50 m Butterfly, finishing fifth, and made the semifinal of the Men's 100 m freestyle.
2007 World Aquatics Championships
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...
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