Ryan Pini’s journey as Papua New Guinea’s ‘Big Fish’

From being dragged to the swimming pool as a child to racing in an Olympic final against the greatest swimmer of all time, Papua New Guinea’s Ryan Pini has built a career that helped put the Pacific on the global swimming map.

Born on December 10, 1981, in Port Moresby, Pini (MBE, OLY) became PNG’s four-time Olympian and one of its most decorated athletes, with success spanning regional, Commonwealth and Olympic competition.

Since stepping away from elite competition, Pini has remained deeply involved in sport.

He was appointed to the World Anti-Doping Agency Athletes’ Council in 2023, representing Oceania, and served as Chef de Mission for Team PNG at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He also contributes across multiple sporting bodies, including the PNG Olympic Committee, PNGSADO and the Pacific Games Council.

In 2024, he was inducted into PNG’s Sports Hall of Fame and later appointed President of PNG Swimming Inc.

Despite retiring at the elite level, Pini remains active in masters competition, while his sons Nate and Zane have begun carving out their own paths in the sport.