HARD work and sacrifice have truly paid off for one of Fiji’s promising young weightlifters, Apakuki Tabuawaiwai Wakanibua.
The 24-year-old is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut later this month in Glasgow, Scotland—a remarkable milestone following his senior multi-sport event debut at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
Reflecting on the moment he was named to the national squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Wakanibua described it as deeply emotional.
“When I heard my name being called, I was really happy, but it was also an emotional moment for me as I recalled struggles I had to overcome,” he said.
“And I’m really grateful to the Lord Almighty for the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious event such as the Commonwealth Games.”
Since taking up weightlifting six years ago, the Naitasiri native has transformed into a resilient and determined athlete.
“The journey hasn’t been easy; I had to overcome lots of sacrifices in the past six years,” he explained.
“Many times, I’ve had to walk from my home in Lami to the gym in Laucala and also went through a lot of financial hardships, but I didn’t let that bring me down. That’s why I was overjoyed to have been named in the final team to Glasgow.”
Making his Commonwealth Games debut marks the pinnacle of Wakanibua’s weightlifting career so far—an achievement he credits largely to the unwavering support of national coach Henry Elder.
“The person who has supported me the most during my career is coach Henry (Elder),” he said.
“Every time I go through hardships, he keeps encouraging me not to give up, and that my struggles were just the seeds to the success that I will reap later in my career.”
Wakanibua will compete in the 65kg division, taking part in both the snatch and clean and jerk events.
The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games are set to begin on 24 July 2026.
