Viliame Ratului is still pinching himself after qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The 23-year-old is the latest Fijian athlete to qualify for the 33rd Olympics in the sport of sailing.
He joins teammate Sophia Morgan, where the duo competed at the Sail Sydney tournament in Australia before gaining qualification for the Olympics.
“I still can’t believe that I’ve been able to book a spot in the Olympic Games,” the Cakaudrove said.
“Sometimes I still pinch myself to see if this isn’t a dream.”
Ratului said he took up sailing in 2009 as a nine-year-old after he was introduced to the sport by friends in Savusavu.
While making his debut for Fiji in 2012, Ratului said the thought of competing at the Olympic Games had never crossed his mind.
He added if it wasn’t for his coach Geoff Taylor, he wouldn’t be the athlete that he is today.
“Coach Taylor has been my coach since I was nine-years-old, ever since I started sailing. I just want to thank him for being by my side all these years even though people didn’t believe in me.”
Ratului said there were times in his sailing journey when people would lose faith in him but added that Taylor was one of the people who stood by his side.
With two sailors now qualified for the Olympics, Ratului hopes their achievement will encourage younger sailors to work hard and strive for their goal.
“Getting to this stage to where I am today has not been easy. I have spent years perfecting my craft, attending overseas tournaments for experience and it hasn’t been an easy journey at all.”
He also thanked Tradewinds Marine and Copra Shed Marina for funding his trip to Sydney.
Ratului and Morgan join the Fiji rugby 7s men’s and women’s teams that have qualified for the 2024 Paris Games.
