THE Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) is mourning the passing away of former Fiji athlete Mereoni Vibose.
Vibose passed away on Saturday in Sigatoka.
Vibose was 66 when she passed away at the Sigatoka Hospital after a short illness. She represented Fiji in the discus and javelin events in six South Pacific Games, two Commonwealth Games and two World Athletics Championships from 1969 to 1987.
FASANOC chief executive officer Lorraine Mar said Vibose was a humble person.
“We have got a message from the Athletics Fiji and FASANOC is very sad to hear that news as she was inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1998,” Mar said.
“Vibose retired from sport in 1991 and in 2016 she competed in the World Masters Championships in Perth, Australia in the three events including women’s 65 kilograms and she also came fourth in the javelin.
“She was a role model for the younger athletes and she was also a very humble athlete. I was also competing when she was still competing and that then is when I got to know her quite well. One of the essential things for an athlete is to be humble. You can be top in your sport, but at the same time it is important to be humble and show respect for others.”
Vibose’s family member Peceli Lasilevu said she would be missed by all the relatives.
“She was sick for some time and she passed away on Saturday morning at the Sigatoka Hospital,” he said.
“She was a very nice person and she was a retired physical education teacher.”
Vibose will be buried at the Raiwaqa Village in Nadroga tomorrow.
FACT FILE:
South Pacific Games
1969 Papua New Guinea discus – silver javelin – silver; 1975 Guam discus – bronze javelin – gold; 1979 Fiji javelin – gold; 1983 Samoa discus – silver javelin – silver; 1987 New Caledonia javelin – gold; 1991 Papua New Guinea discus – bronze
Commonwealth Games
1974 New Zealand discus -11th javelin – 7th; 1982 Australia discus – 9th javelin – 8th; 1983 National Athlete Championships in Suva, she set a Fiji record of 47.76 metres in the discus and in the 1987, again in Suva, set a javelin record of 53.18 metres.
Vibose retired from athletics in 1991 after 22 years of participation in her chosen discipline, having won three gold, four silver and two bronze medals during her period.
