Opportunity Is Every Athletes Dream

The opportunity to participate in an Olympic Games is every athlete’s dream and Waisake Tewa is no different.

The 20-year-old from Gau, Lomaiviti with maternal links to Saqani, Cakaudrove said he is leaving no stone unturned as he hopes to be chosen to represent Fiji at the pinnacle of sporting events, the Olympic Games in Paris, France later this year.

"I understand that I am not the only one trying to earn a spot with other talented athletes like Yeshnil Karan also vying for a spot," he said.

"I just have to put in the hours and trust in my ability and the advice of my coach."

Waisake said the pressure was on him since the withdrawal of Banuve Tabakaucoro from the sport and he knows he will have huge shoes to fill.

"Olympians like Banuve, Gabriel Qoro and Jone Delai have set a standard in the sport and now it is up to us to make sure that we keep up these standards," he said.

Despite being considered one of the fastest men in Fiji at the moment, Waisake said he still faces challenges which often makes him question his commitment to the sport.

While taking part in the Oceania Invitational and Athletics Championship 2024, Waisake had to ask for assistance from other athletes for track shoes to use.

"To get these shoes is quite expensive and because I am not working I cannot afford them.

"I also have a hard time getting to the tracks to train because I have to use money to travel and then pay for the use of the tracks or gym in order to work out," he said.

However, Waisake said he would not let these challenges deter him for trying his best to make the Fiji team to the Olympic Games.

The former Saqani High School student had to make the move to Suva to pursue his dream to represent Fiji in the sport of athletics.

This culminated with his being chosen to represent the country at his first Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands in 2023.

Waisake participated in the 100m, 200m and relay events for Team Fiji where he won his first Pacific Games medal, a silver, in the 4x100m Relay.

Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is scheduled to run from 1-11 August 2024, featuring a total of 48 medal events across three distinct sets: track and field, road running, and racewalking.

Four venues are to be used: Pont d'Iéna for race walking, Hôtel de Ville and Les Invalides for the start and end points of the marathon races, and Stade de France for the track and field events.

The competition will feature an identical number of medal events for men and women, for the first time in Olympic history.

Another significant change to the athletics program is the repechage-round format in all individual track events from 200m to 1500m and the hurdles events (110m for men, 100m for women, and the 400m for both), a vast opportunity for the runners to have a second chance of entering the semifinal phase.

This format will replace the former system of athletes advancing through the fastest overall times (q) apart from those qualifying directly in the first-round heats.

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