GO RYAN PINI!
By Emmanuel Narokobi - 21st March 2006

This has absolutely nothing to do with IT and websites, but all to do with PNG. How about that huh?? PNG's Ryan Pini, Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games.

All I can say is LOOK OUT THE SCORE BOARD!!!! Awesome Stuff Ryan!!........

Kingpin Pini - Herald Sun
Danny Buttler
21mar06

PAPUA New Guinea's first ever swimming gold medal will be celebrated from Port Moresby to Rabaul.

Ryan Pini's victory in the 100m butterfly prompted jubilant scenes at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre as the normally partisan home crowd realised the significance of the win.

PNG has won just one gold medal in Commonwealth Games history -- a lawn bowls triumph in 1990.

"It's unbelievable. I've just felt so good in this competition," Pini, 24, said.

The crowd's raucous reaction to his win was almost as stunning as snaring the gold, he said. "It's incredible -- they'll cheer for anyone."

Having won PNG's sportsman of the year in both 2003 and 2004, the university student will now be an unbackable favourite to add a third title to his name.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said the victory was one of the greatest in his nation's history.

"In the Papua New Guinean mountains and towns they all will be watching," he said. "It's all spectacular, it's all fantastic -- I'm very, very proud."

Even Michael Klim, whose hometown fairytale had been spoiled, enjoyed the moment. "He deserves it -- he's a great guy," he said.

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