DECATHLON and Olympian Albert Miller still holds the national record for decathlon in Fiji.
Yesterday he reminisced his glory days during the FASANOC Fiji Sports and Fiji Olympic Order Inductees interview series at the FASANOC headquarters in Suva.
Miller, 59, is from Savusavu.
His sporting career started from a humble background in Savusavu.
The tough and challenging upbringing he came across helped him became a champion athlete and a Fijian household name until today.
He has also challenged young people saying age is not a barrier in sports.
“I think in today’s age, there’s a lot of NCDs and I think it’s important to stay active, do something that you love and sports I may say is what I love,” said Miller.
He made the comment in the lead-up to the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame awards to be held on March 31 at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi.
He said being an inductee into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame was a highlight of his career.
“If anybody received such recognition to meet the climate of all the years of dedication to sport, it’s worthwhile and it’s a great achievement,” he said.
Miller was born on December 12, 1957 in Kasavu, Cakaudrove, Fiji. Miller is a former decathlete and Olympian for Fiji.
His personal best was 7397 points and also the current national record of Fiji.
According to FASANOC, he is arguably one of the greatest Fijian athletes ever. This can be supported by the fact that he was the South Pacific decathlon champion for three successive games with silver to back it up at his fourth event with record breaking performances.
Albert won this event in the 1983 Samoa Games, with a total of 6870 points, then again in New Caledonia in 1987 with 7019 points and then in Port Moresby in 1991 with 7265, with a silver in Tahiti, in 1995.
His performances in the region have not been matched for over 24 years and Albert continues to hold the national record, South Pacific Games record and the South Pacific best performance in decathlon.
Albert represented Fiji at the Commonwealth Games in 1986 in Edinburgh, where he finished in 10th place overall, against top decathletes such as the then world and Olympics champion and record holder Daley Thomson. Albert was also a member of the most successful Fiji relay team ever in the 4×100 metres which finished fourth at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games.
Albert participated at three Olympic Games, with very competitive results. In 1984 — did not finish because of injury sustained during the competition; 1988 — Seoul with 7016 points in 32nd place and then in 1992 in 24th place with 6971 points.
Although Albert was renowned for his exploits in the decathlon, he was also as competitive in the 110m hurdles. He has won two silver and a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles during the 1983, 1987, and 1991 South Pacific Games.
In 1983 Albert competed in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Div II National Championships, in the USA while representing California State University of Sacramento (CSUS) where all the top athletes in the sport of Track and Field from throughout the USA competed. Albert finished third overall with a score of 7455 points, establishing a new South Pacific best score and a record for the California State University of Sacramento. Because of his success at the 1983 NCAA Championship, Albert was inducted into the Sacramento University Hall of Fame and was also the recipient of NCAA All American award.
Albert has dedicated 24 years of his life representing Fiji and assisting in the development of the sport of athletics.
The Fiji Hall of Fame is an event organised by FASANOC because it’s an event that honours, remembers and recognises the athletes that have represented Fiji abroad with distinction and those who have made it possible to help those distinctive athletes achieve their goals.
