WHEN David Raibiriki trains he doesn’t always have his coach beside him. Instead, he turns to YouTube.
The 20-year-old from Doi Village in the Lau Group is the only Fijian taking part in the men’s octathlon for the upcoming 2025 Pacific Mini Games.
And his journey has been anything but ordinary.
Raibiriki didn’t grow up dreaming of being an octathlete.
He started off in primary school doing track events, but a hamstring injury changed everything.
When he got to high school, he stuck to long jump and triple jump events that put less pressure on his injury.
“I didn’t expect to take part in this event,” Raibiriki said.
“It was my coach Albert Miller, who suggested I try it.”
Albert Miller is a name many in Fiji athletics know.
A former decathlete, Olympian and mentor, Miller saw something in Raibiriki, something beyond his specialisation in jumps.
So when the opportunity came to compete in eight different events the 100m, 400m, 110m hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin and the 1000m, Raibiriki didn’t hesitate.
“I just went with the flow. Even though I’ve never done some of these events before, I trusted coach.”
But with Miller now in Palau, Raibiriki has had to train alone.
That’s where YouTube became his classroom.
“I search everything on YouTube, from technique, to form, to tips.
“I use it to guide my individual training.”
And it’s paying off.
At the Fiji National athletics championships last week, Raibiriki has already shown promise.
With the championship held at HFC Bank Stadium also serving as the last Mini Games trials , he qualified in all of his events – long jump (6.34m), shot put (8.95m) and clocked 12.14 seconds in the 100m dash. In the 400m, he clocked 55.21s, followed by a time of 17.25s in the 110m hurdles. He jumped 1.60m in high jump and threw a distance of 37.30m in javelin.
Despite never competing in an octathlon before, Raibiriki is pushing himself.
“There are challenges I’ve faced, but I won’t talk about that.
“I just want to focus on my goal, to get a medal and maybe break some records too.”
Miller gave him one simple piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid.”
“He told me, here in Fiji we don’t have big crowds.
“But when we go overseas, it’s different. So I’m learning to get used to that.”
This is Raibiriki’s first international competition. His first time representing Fiji at the Mini Games.
And if his results and mindset are anything to go by, it won’t be his last.
From Doi to the world stage, Raibiriki is running his own race. And he’s not afraid. Meanwhile, the 2025 Pacific Mini Games will take place in Palau from June 29 to July 9.
