“I have never been on the plane before, but I have always dreamed of flying.”
Sitiveni Kuanaivalu Koroituku will take his first flight later this month, to represent Fiji in the high jump at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
The Tavua athlete has never left the country before. But he believes his journey is guided by something greater.
“God gave me this talent, and I want to use it,” he said.
“I’m nervous but excited. I just want to do my best.”
Koroituku discovered high jump in 2022, when he placed ninth at the Coca-Cola Games competition in his first ever competition.
By last year, he had improved to second place, showing steady growth and dedication to the sport.
In 2024, he proudly wore the Fiji jersey for the first time at the Oceania Championship that was held at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
“I’m so grateful. I thank God, my brother and my father for pushing me to keep going.”
Back home in Ra, training wasn’t always easy for the young lad.
“When it rains, the field turns muddy, but I still go. Even if the conditions are hard, becasue I know there’s a reward behind the struggle,” he said.
He’s now sharpening his run-up and kick-off, hoping to land on the podium.
“Any medal is fine,” he smiled. “I just want to bring something back home with me.”
The Balata College student will once again compete alongside his older brother, Rusiate Matai- the national high jump record holder and 2023 Pacific Games gold medalist.
“I really look up to him. I guess it’s because he knows the challenges and he has been given a lot of advice when pursuing his dreams and just so he passes those advice down to me.”
Koroituku also thanked Fiji Athletics for encouraging him to keep trying and his family and community for their support.
The Palau mini games will be held from June 27 to July 9.
