Ponipate Loganimasi made a pivotal choice to pursue a career in rugby instead of attending university, a decision fully supported by his father, Joeli Kalougata. In under two years with the national sevens team, Loganimasi has distinguished himself on the global rugby stage.
This year, he not only contributed to the team achieving an Olympic silver medal but also became the sole Fijian player featured in the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year, an honor announced recently. His impressive journey continued in September during the Pacific Nations Cup, where he made his debut for the Flying Fijians in the finals against Japan, scoring twice in the team’s 41-17 triumph, thereby securing the title for Fiji.
In October, he signed with the Fijian Drua, marking another exciting step in his career. Loganimasi hails from Nabua in Cakaudrove and originally comes from Lovoni in Ono-i-Lau.
In a conversation from Savusavu, his father expressed immense pride in his son’s accomplishments. While the family encouraged him to follow in the academic footsteps of his older siblings at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, Loganimasi felt called to focus on his rugby career instead. Kalougata advised his son to keep faith and work hard, emphasizing that by staying humble and dedicated, opportunities would come.
In addition to his recent achievements, Loganimasi is also a gold medallist from the Coca-Cola Games in the 200m race during his junior year at Navatu Secondary School, showcasing his athletic versatility as he also participated in rugby and indoor basketball throughout high school.
The World Rugby Men’s Sevens Dream Team also included notable players such as Selvyn Davids from South Africa, Antoine Dupont from France, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang from France, Terry Kennedy from Ireland, Nathan Lawson from Australia, and Matías Osadczuk from Argentina.
This inspiring story of determination and success reflects the power of following one’s passion, particularly in sports, and serves as a reminder that with hard work and divine guidance, dreams can become reality. Loganimasi’s journey in rugby serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes everywhere.
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