A gold medal win dedicated to his late father marked a poignant moment as 18-year-old George O’Connor of Queen Victoria School emerged victorious in the senior boys 800m event during the Tailevu zone competition at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday.
Clocking an impressive time of 2 minutes 03.69 seconds, George claimed the gold medal for his school, a testament to his hard work and dedication in preparing for the competition.
Reflecting on his journey leading up to the event, George emphasised the demanding training regimen that began at the start of the school year, with the intensity escalating as he geared up for the inter-house competition.
George acknowledged that his journey towards success is far from over, with the upcoming Fiji Finals posing a new challenge.
“I’m proud to win a gold medal, but I know the work doesn’t stop here as we got the Fiji Finals to look forward to, so it will be extra hard work in training to win another gold medal for my school.”
The intense competition pushed George to his limits, but the unwavering support and encouragement from his peers at QVS played a crucial role in motivating him to give his best and emerge victorious.
In a touching tribute, George dedicated his win to his late father, expressing his enduring sorrow at his father not being present to witness this milestone.
“I like to dedicate this win to my dad who passed away in 2022, still hurts till today that he is not here with me, and not watching me win a gold medal, so this is for you dad.”
