Meet 24-year-old Elenoa Vateitei, an inspiring gold medal-winning paddler who is proud to have represented Fiji to the world in the sport of Va’a — outrigger canoeing.
Originally from Namuka in Bau, Tailevu, Elenoa shares maternal links to the island of Navuti in Moturiki and is the youngest of eight siblings.
Elenoa has always had a love for the ocean, reminding her of her late sister who first introduced her to the life of exploring reefs and swimming outside of the usual picnic spots.
At 14, Elenoa learned about the Takia Outrigger Canoe Club through a friend who was looking for girls to make up their junior paddling team.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to explore the vast ocean and its beauty while trying something different,” she said.
“When I first expressed my interest, I was told they had enough members. So, I had to wait for the next batch of intakes.”
Upon joining the team, Elenoa quickly discovered that paddling was more than just a sport, it was a way of life.
“With its richness in culture and mana, the sport required more than just my physical being. It required my spiritual and mental being too, as it paved a way for a connection between me and the ocean.”
Coming from a big family, Elenoa said being competitive was a norm in her household and that was where her competitive nature was fostered.
“We would ensure that whatever we did was done to the best of our ability and should surpass the older siblings’ achievements.”
With the hope of keeping the peace, Elenoa’s parents did not allow more than two of their children to take up the same sport because it would create conflict and, possibly, World War III.
Through rigorous training and unyielding dedication, Elenoa began competing regionally and internationally.
She won her first gold medal when she represented Takia at the Fiji Outrigger national sprint championship in the junior girls U16 and U19 categories in 2014.
Over the years she has collected more than 15 medals, two of which were Gold and Silver, she won at last year’s Pacific Games in Honiara.
Her defining moment came when she faced fierce competition during the 2023 IVF world distance championship.
Elenoa recalls it as an amazing experience despite struggling in the first 8km loop and having to get her head back in the game.
Undeterred and fuelled with adrenaline, Elenoa was able to paddle through the choppy waters of the ocean and of scepticism, earning a bronze medal for her efforts.
“One of the greatest moments that will live rent-free in my mind was when I was coming towards the finish, and I could see from the corner of my eyes, our noble banner blue had overwhelmed the seawalls of Apia.
As for the future, “only time will tell what I’ll be doing come the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, but I will still be paddling”.
Focusing on giving back to the sport, Elenoa wishes to help her fellow paddlers enhance their skills and nurture their talent to ensure every paddler is around the same level come the next regional competition.
As much as Elenoa wishes to do paddling full time, she has other commitments towards her family and parents.
“My parents had this rule whereby the other things we do in life, like our schoolwork and work life, are just as important as our sporting career.
“If I wasn’t performing well in school or at work; then I had to give up paddling, therefore, I had to balance between family, school, work and my sporting career.”
After attending Saint Joseph Secondary School from 2013-2017, Elenoa furthered her education at the University of The South Pacific where she completed her postgraduate Diploma in Land Management and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, majoring in land management and geospatial science.
She currently works as an Assistant Geospatial Officer with the Geospatial Information Management (GIM) Division of the Ministry of Lands and Minerals Resources.
Elenoa’s daily routine includes rising in the early hours of the morning to pray, then from 4.05am to 7.15am she is dedicated toward her training session.
She prepares and leaves for work at 8am and must attend afternoon training sessions from 5pm to 7.30pm.
After a long day of working nonstop, the hardworking paddler still manages to make time for family and recapping the day’s events before sleeping at 10:30 pm.
Seeing challenges as an opportunity for growth, Elenoa highlights that one of the main failures of the sport is its lack of exposure to more regional and international competitions.
“The sport of Va’a in Fiji is small,” she said.
“Having the opportunity to attend more regional and international comps will boost a paddler’s experience and give people a taste of what is expected of us paddlers in international competitions.”
The medal winning paddler believes the support of family and friends are the backbone of her success, and she’s forever grateful to those who have helped her and enabled her to come this far in life.
“Sometimes, I’d like to think that I’m too spoiled and that God was playing favourites because at times when I feel like I’m not performing, these people are always there cheering me on and continuously pushing me beyond my limits.
“I am literally where I am today because of the love and support from everyone who makes up my village or support system.
“Only time will tell what I’ll be doing come the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, but I will still be paddling.”
Focusing on giving back to the sport, she wishes to help her fellow paddlers enhance their skills and nurture their talents to ensure that every paddler is around the same level come the next regional competition.
“The sky is not the limit anymore. “As the ocean sets as an equilibrium, where nothing matters more than your will to succeed.
“So, shoot for the moon instead. Dream big and stay grounded! “It may seem unrealistic, but you’ll eventually get there. It may not be today, or tomorrow — but one day you’ll reach your goal.”
