JOHN Vugakoto has soared into the spotlight after breaking a five-year-old junior boys high jump record at the Nadi Zone competition yesterday.
The Swami Vivekananda College student produced a stunning leap of 1.80m in the junior boys high jump, breaking a five-year-old record of 1.69m and announcing himself as one of the country’s promising young talents.
For Vugakoto, the moment was both thrilling and unexpected.
“In my mind was to get that gold and break the record. When I was jumping, I didn’t know that I had already broken it, so my last attempt my aim was to go higher,” he said.
Hailing from Naigani village in Batiki, Lomaiviti, the soft-spoken athlete credits his achievement to determination and sacrifice, especially after stepping back into athletics.
“Training was really tough and I’m just getting back to athletics, but it’s really going well and good,” he shared.
Vugakoto’s journey in education has also shaped his discipline and resilience. He began his schooling at Mount St Mary’s Primary School in Nadi before moving to Suva for Year Nine at Suva Grammar School. This year, he returned to Nadi to continue at Swami Vivekananda College a move he believes has paid off.
“I’m proud of myself because I was able to achieve this through sacrifice,” he said.
With the zone competition behind him, Vugakoto has now set his sights on the biggest stage in secondary school athletics the Coca-Cola Games.
His goals are clear and ambitious.
“I want to break another record, to jump 2m or 1.95m.”
Vugakoto is also the current sub junior boys high jump record holder. He set the new record of 1.76m last year.
