Fiji Paralympian Naibili Vatunisolo set a new Oceania record with a shot put throw of 9.19 meters during the Paris Paralympic Games at Stade de France last Thursday. Upon arriving at Nadi Airport yesterday, Vatunisolo expressed her surprise at achieving the record, stating, “I was shocked when they told me that I had set the new Oceania record.”
The athlete acknowledged the challenges she faced during the competition, noting that the conditions were difficult due to the rain, which made the shot put slippery. Competing in a combined class—F42, F44, and F64—she placed 10th out of 15 participants but believed she could have performed better without the weather hindrances.
Fellow competitor Selina Seau finished in 14th place. Vatunisolo’s personal best before this event was 9.05 meters. The F42-44 category accommodates athletes with lower limb impairments competing without prosthetics, while the F61-64 class includes those with prosthetics.
Looking ahead, Vatunisolo, who carries the experience of long training sessions and competitions, is considering a break before beginning her preparation for the 2025 World Championship and the Palau Mini Games. She expressed a desire for more local competitors to enhance the competitive environment, sharing, “There is hardly competition; if there were any, we could be setting more records.”
Earlier this year, Vatunisolo earned a gold medal in the women’s shot put Ambulatory Para Category at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva with a score of 77.75, and she previously secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Additionally, she won another bronze medal in shot put with a throw of 7.97 meters at the Sols23 event.