Sophia Morgan, a 20-year-old sailor from Fiji, has set her course from the classrooms in Fiji to the sailing waters in Marseille, motivated by the triumph of Fiji’s Olympic rugby heroes. At just 13, she was inspired to pursue Olympic dreams after witnessing Fiji’s rugby sevens team win gold at the Rio Olympics.
Sophia recalls the memory, with Fiji achieving a 43-7 victory over Great Britain in the men’s rugby sevens final. The country was consumed by the event, erupting in celebration at the win, which marked the end of class that day. Rugby’s immense popularity in Fiji and the team’s success ignited Sophia’s belief in her potential.
Fast forward to Tokyo 2020, Sophia’s perseverance led to her Olympic debut in the laser radial sailing event where she finished 42nd. A sailor since age eight, Sophia moved to New Zealand at 14 to chase her dreams. Her sailing career quickly accelerated. She won silver at the 2019 Pacific Games and qualified for Tokyo 2020 with an impressive display at the Women’s Laser Radial World Championship.
Key to her journey was an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship, indispensable for participating in world championships and gaining experience. Sophia stated that without the scholarship, they would have been significantly restricted in their Olympics preparations.
Now with her eyes on the Paris 2024, Sophia continues her upward journey. She clinched two silver medals at the 2023 Pacific Games and secured her Olympic spot at the Sail Sydney event. As a seasoned athlete, she’s eager to improve her Olympic performance.
Being older and having worked extensively on her sailing and fitness, Sophia is filled with anticipation for her next Olympic Games. Brace for her proud moment, which is the culmination of efforts since Tokyo and the years leading up to it. Sophia awaits eager to represent her family and country once more.