Taniela Rainibogi and Miriama Taletawa have made significant strides in the sport of weightlifting, setting a high standard for themselves and fellow athletes. At the 2023 Fiji Sports Awards, both were honored as the Fiji Sports Council Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.
Throughout 2023, Rainibogi showcased impressive performances, winning several local competitions and earning silver at the Pacific Elite International tournament. He also secured gold in the men’s 109kg category at the Commonwealth Championships in India, becoming the first Fijian male athlete in 70 years to win a silver and three bronze medals in clean and jerk at the IWF Grand Prix in Qatar.
At just 24 years old, Rainibogi had the honor of being Team Fiji’s flag bearer during the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, where he earned three gold medals and was named the best overall athlete. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s been a long time coming, I feel happy, and it was good to be recognized. I want to dedicate this achievement to all the people who reached out to us, to those who believed in us, our families, and not forgetting my wife and daughter.”
Family support has been crucial for Rainibogi as he aims for success in the demanding sport. “My biggest motivation is my family and the young athletes training in weightlifting, because they face many challenges and obstacles. I must work hard to elevate this sport,” he stated. He encouraged young athletes to have self-belief, saying, “My message to the young ones is to believe in themselves and be themselves.”
Rainibogi was one of 13 nominees from various sports, including archery, basketball, hockey, rugby league, rugby union, special Olympics, squash, swimming, table tennis, and taekwondo. His next challenge will be at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship at the Vodafone Arena later this month.