From Remote Islands To World Stage

Sole swimming representatives at S'pore meet want to make their nations proud

- Kimberly Kwek

For Phillip Kinono, the ocean is more than a picturesque backdrop—it is his playground, where his love for swimming began.

Growing up in the Marshall Islands, a territory of 29 coral atolls and five single coral islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean, Kinono was surrounded by endless blue.

With only one swimming pool in the entire territory—a modest 25-yard saltwater facility in a military base, a 20-minute ferry ride away from his home—the ocean became his training ground.

That early connection with water eventually set him on a path to the world stage. Now 27, Kinono is representing the Marshall Islands at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore, and doing so alone.

"I started back in high school—we are surrounded by the ocean, so I've had a love of swimming since I was a kid," said Kinono, who placed 105th out of 116 men in the 50m freestyle in 27.90 seconds.

"The journey has been incredible. I had no idea that swimming could take you around the world and I'm pretty grateful."

While the 181 sq km Marshall Islands laid the foundation for Kinono's swimming career, he left home for the United States about six years ago in pursuit of faster times.

That meant being apart from his family, particularly his mother, with whom he shares a deep bond.

He has had to overcome other challenges. At nine, Kinono was hit by a car, resulting in the amputation of two toes.