JOSAIA Tikomainiusiladi 14, travelled 320 kilometers with the whole island supporting him to join his team for the FMF Chow Games that will be held at the ANZ Stadium tomorrow.
The young athlete represents Taveuni in the competition but he has been doing his own training at Sukanaivalu Memorial School on the island of Yacata that is remotely located between the northern Lau group and Qamea Island in Taveuni.
With about 40 students in the school, Tikomainiusiladi is one of the only three students in Year 8 and he has been the only student representing the whole island to the FMF Chow Games for the past five years and he hopes to end this season on a high note leaving a legacy behind for his school.
The sprinter will be one of the top contenders in the 200 and 400 metres after he scooped the gold in the Taveuni zone with an unofficial time of 24.30 seconds in the 200 metres.
Tikomainiusiladi said with the lack of training facilities, he used the resources around him to train.
“We don’t have a big playing ground to train but what I have is the long white sandy beach that stretches from one point of the island to the other and I train there every morning, midday and swimming in the afternoon.
“My goal is to win a medal for my team but most importantly make a name for my school and my island home and whatever I win…I win it for everyone back home,” said Tikomainiusiladi.
Training as a team wasn’t possible due to the location of the island and cost of travelling to Taveuni to join his team members, however, the young star prefers to use his surroundings as his training ground.
School headteacher Amena Finau said Tikomainiusiladi’s achievement in the past had boosted the lives of families in the village to contribute in his fundraising coming to the mainland.
“He’s the only student from Yacata to qualify for the nationals and he has always scooped gold in his events during the zone meet.
“Families and relatives joined hands and fundraised for his expenses while Peter Miller the owner of Vatuvara Private Island paid for his travels to the mainland and back,” said Finau.
The FMF Chow Games will begin tomorrow and the finals will be played on Saturday at the ANZ Stadium.
