20-year-old former Nakasi High School sprinter Waisake Tewa will represent Fiji in the Men’s 100m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Recognized as one of Fiji’s fastest men, Tewa’s journey to the Olympic stage has been marked by personal and financial challenges.
At the Oceania Invitational and Athletics Championship 2024 in Suva, Tewa depended on fellow athletes for basic equipment like track shoes, which he cannot afford.
“To get these shoes is quite expensive and because I am not working I cannot afford them,” he explained.
Training facilities present another difficulty for Tewa, who struggles with travel costs and access fees for tracks and gyms.
“I also have a hard time getting to the tracks to train because I have to use money to travel and then pay for the use of the tracks or gym in order to work out,” he said.
After moving to Suva in 2021 and enrolling at Nakasi High School, the former Saqani High School student dedicated himself to pursuing his athletic dreams.
His commitment bore fruit when he represented Fiji at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, competing in the 100m, 200m, and relay events. Tewa won his first Pacific Games silver medal in the 4x100m Relay.
Balancing his athletic career, Tewa is currently pursuing a certificate in Carpentry Engineering at the Fiji National University.
Athletics at the 2024 Paris Olympics is scheduled to take place from August 1-11.