While hopefuls continue their quest to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, another individual is set to make her first appearance as an official.
Della Shaw-Elder revealed to the media that she will be part of the Games as an International Technical Official in weight-lifting.
This would be her second appointment to officiate at one of the biggest stages of sports.
“I received the appointment in September, but I want to share the news now, I will be going to Paris as an international technical official.
“My first appointment was Tokyo but it was unfortunate that my whole family got COVID so I couldn’t go. One member of the family was seriously ill, so I had to turn down the trip. God willing, I will be in Paris,” Fiji’s former ‘weight-lifting Golden Girl’ shared.
“I’m very thankful to International Weightlifting for appointing me. Apparently, there’s only two from the Oceania region, myself and other is from Australia who is Sam Coffa, who is a technical director also for the games.
“I appreciate that they belief in my capabilities to be in Paris.”
Elder has officiated at major international weight-lifting competitions including two Senior World Championships, two Junior World Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the Youth World Championships, and the Pacific Games.
In 2014, she became the first ever female International Weightlifting category one referee in the Pacific region.
Elected as Weightlifting Fiji president four years ago, Elder was the only female in the Executive Board of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation in 2021.
Her children are now the new faces of Weightlifting Fiji, mentored by her husband and national coach Henry Elder.
