Nineteen-year-old Mirima Taletawa expressed her astonishment after being named the recipient of the 2023 Fiji Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year award.
Having joined weightlifting just four years ago, Taletawa from Vanuabalavu in Lau never anticipated rising to prominence and being honored for her dedication, long hours, and sacrifices throughout her journey. Her efforts culminated in a successful 2023 season where she clinched all club, district, and national titles.
She continued to excel on larger platforms, securing two bronze medals at the Oceania Under-23 Junior and Youth Championship in Samoa and another bronze in the 71kg junior division at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in India.
The previous year, Taletawa earned a silver medal at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships and the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan.
In a media interview following her award win, the young athlete, whose maternal roots trace back to Naitasiri, highlighted the support she received from her peers during challenging times.
“We train every day, often spending hours in the gym, and there were times I felt overwhelmed, especially with school and exams, leading me to consider giving up,” she shared. “It was my teammates who reminded me that I could balance weightlifting and my studies. They would even help me with my schoolwork.”
Taniela Ranibogi, Taniela Turaganivalu, and Daniel Shaw were among those who assisted her in managing the pressures of both sports and academics.
“When I started in 2020, I felt shy among the many boys training, but they inspired me to push myself in the sport,” she recalled.
Taletawa, a Year-13 student at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School, was introduced to weightlifting through her mother.
“My mother is in the village in Nakorosule, so I’m unsure if she knows about my award yet, but I believe she would be proud of me,” she added.
The young athlete is also set to compete in this month’s Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.