ARCHER Robert Elder is honoured to represent the country at his third Olympic Games in Rio next month.
Originally from Victoria in Australia, Elder said he was humbled to represent Fiji at this pinnacle event.
He said words couldn’t describe the feeling of representing his adopted home and was grateful to make his mum proud.
His mum hails from Navutu in Naitasiri.
For someone who once dreamt of representing the country in athletics, he could not believe of making a name in archery — let alone representing the country at the Olympics.
Elder said he was introduced to the sport by his father and little did he know this was a beginning of a new journey.
A journey that engraves his name in country’s history book being an Olympian and Fijian sports ambassador.
“Growing up as a kid I always wanted to represent Fiji in athletics to the Olympics but the Almighty Lord has other plans for me,” said Elder.
“My father first introduced me to archery in July, 1998 and since them I just fell in love with the sport.
“I took it as one of my hobbies and continued to spend more time in the sport.
“I started to gain more skills about the sport and progressed through the ranks until I secured a spot in the national team.”
Elder made his biggest break when he was selected to represent the country at the South Pacific Games in 2003.
He won a bronze medal the same year and his impressive performance at the local front saw him retain his spot year in year out flying the Fiji colours.
Of all the tournament he participated, Elder said the Olympics experience was second to none.
“Words cannot describe the feeling of representing Fiji at the Olympics.
“It is a moment that I will always cherish and I am humbled to have fulfilled my dream of playing at an Olympics.”
Elder thanked his wife, children and loved ones for the support enabling him to become a successful sportsperson.
“I want to thank my wife and kids for the support and the sacrifices.
“I also thank my coach and pastor for the spiritual advice not forgetting FASANOC, the government and all those that have helped me along the way.”
Participating at his third Olympics, Elder said his aim was to improve from where he left off in the last two Games.
He spent two months of training in Thailand and was confident that the lessons learnt in Thailand would help him in his performance in Rio.
“This is my third Olympics and I am confident of an improved outing this time around compared to my last Olympics.”
“In the first Olympics I was placed 57 out of 64 and then placed 32 in the last Olympics and hopefully I will again lift my form in Rio.
“I have been training in Thailand for two months and have learnt couple of new things that will be useful to my Rio campaign.”
He said the Olympics was a different ball game altogether and his focus was to be in the right state of mind before the Games.
“Olympics is all about nerves and how you handle your nerves.
“If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and you are not feeling right definitely it will affect your game.
“So most importantly I should stay calm and absorb the pressure to perform well,” he added.
