Weightlifting Fiji celebrated a successful night at the 2023 Fiji Sports Awards, securing three prestigious accolades. Head coach Henry Elder expressed his hope that these achievements would attract greater support for the sport.
Lifters Taniela Rainibogi and Miriama Taletawa were honored as the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively, while promising athlete Nehemiah Elder was recognized as the Young Male Athlete of the Year.
Henry Elder was filled with joy as he cheered for his athletes during the recognition ceremony. He reflected on the team’s success, crediting their hard work and determination to their faith. “Weightlifting Fiji sticks by its scripture in Mathew 6-33. It is through God and God alone that we have achieved what we have achieved. My athletes have worked hard, and nobody knows the struggles they’ve been through, and I am so thankful that this has happened,” he said.
He shared that many of the athletes were reluctant to discuss their challenges. For example, Taniela Rainibogi’s dedication saw him walk from Nakasi to Suva for training and back home multiple times a day while also seeking work to support his family. Elder recalled learning about Taniela’s long walks only through another athlete’s comment, which broke his heart. Despite these hardships, Taniela persevered and won a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
As the young weightlifters pursue their aspirations, Elder hopes their accomplishments will encourage businesses to offer support. “I hope people will see that we raise the flag of Fiji also. We achieve big, in the last three Commonwealth Games, weightlifting has won medals, so we raise our bar high, and we achieve high also. We hope that this will be something that can turn some heads,” he stated.
Elder aims for the team to win medals in the upcoming 2028 and 2032 Olympics, setting a target of four to six medals in 2032. He is optimistic about achieving these goals with continued support.
Musician Apakuki Nalawa is among those stepping up to support the sport, providing nutritional assistance, along with several businesses contributing to a competitive environment for weightlifters.