Sophia Morgan, a 20-year-old sailor from Fiji, was inspired to pursue her Olympic dreams after witnessing Fiji’s rugby sevens team clinch gold at the Rio Olympics when she was just 13. The monumental win, which occurred in a nail-biting final against Great Britain, marked the end of class that day, as everyone celebrated the victory.
Sophia was particularly moved by the victory. She realized that she too could aspire to Olympic glory, propelling her to focus on sailing. Fast forward to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she made her debut at the laser radial sailing event and finished in the 42nd place, a feat she describes as “amazing.”
Sophia started sailing at the age of eight and relocated to New Zealand six years later to chase her dream. Her dedication quickly bore fruit; she bagged silver at the 2019 Pacific Games and secured her Tokyo 2020 spot with outstanding performance at the Women’s Laser Radial World Championship. This journey was propped up by an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship which was vital for her to participate in world championships and gain richer experience.
Now, with her sights firmly set on the Paris 2024 Olympics, Sophia has been consistently performing well, claiming two silver medals at the 2023 Pacific Games, and securing her position in the Paris event at the Sail Sydney competition. Committed to improving her Olympic performance, the young sailor is excited and more focused. She views her participation in the upcoming games as a proud moment resultant from years of hard work and determination.