Former blue ribbon record holder Waisale Inoke’s journey towards athletic and academic success took a new direction when he transitioned from sprinting to the decathlon.
In 2023, Waisale was awarded a scholarship to study and train at Neosho College in Kansas, USA. Initially focusing on the 100m dash, he soon realized that the multifaceted challenges of the decathlon better suited his talents and ambitions.
“In college, I found out that qualifying for nationals, especially in my chosen events like the 100m, was hard so I made the decision with my coach to try the decathlon,” he explained.
The decathlon is a demanding multi-discipline event combining ten track and field events that test an athlete’s versatility, including sprinting, jumping, and throwing.
“It is a challenge considering that the decathlon combines four runs, three jumps, and three throws,” Inoke noted.
Despite the physical and mental demands, particularly in adapting to longer races like the 400 meters and 1500 meters, Inoke views these challenges as opportunities for growth.
“Challenges are good as they build character and allow you to mentally prepare yourself for any task,” said the former Fiji Secondary School long jump record holder.
Inspired by his sister, a Fijian bronze medalist in Heptathlon at the 2018 Melanesian Games, Waisale’s ultimate dream is to represent Fiji at the Olympic Games.
“The Olympic Games is the ultimate goal for any athlete who takes up sports seriously. To reach the Olympic Games and be a member of Team Fiji would be a goal to pursue, and I hope that I will be able to continue to be a part of that reality in the future.”