FOUR Fiji lifters preparing for the Oceania Weightlifting Championship have been relocated to Suva to continue with their preparation after Tropical Cyclone Winston demolished their gym in Levuka.
Yesterday, Times Sports caught up with the four women lifters training under the watchful eyes of weightlifting assistant coach Henry Elder.
Elder said lifters Apolonia Vaivai, Julia Timi, Sophia Kinikinilau and Seruwaia Malani were brought to Suva by head coach Joe Vueti to continue with their training while the male lifters stayed back in Levuka to help in rebuilding the gym.
“TC Winston demolished the training facility and the all the houses in Baba, Levuka were either fully destroyed or partially but most had their roofs blown off, and these athletes came with only one piece of clothing on them,” Elder said.
“They’re finding it really hard, it was only the clothes they were wearing and most had to wear their clothes until they were really dirty before they washed them and covered themselves with their bathing towels waiting for their clothes to dry up before they could wear them again.
“It is very painful to see them,” Elder added.
He said however they had been grateful to the FWF secretary Christopher Yee and Atma Maharaj for their assistance to the team.
“Two boys were also here with the girls but have returned with Joe (Vueti) to help in whatever way they can to try and get everything back to normal.
“I take my hats off to these players for they have been working hard to try and get themselves ready for the Oceania Championship despite all that has happened,” Elder said.
The Oceania Championship will be staged in Fiji from May 23-27 and is also expected to bring home some of the world’s finest lifters who are still trying to get a spot to the Rio Olympics.
