AUDIENCE of one or AO1 is Olympic hopeful Eugene Vollmer’s favourite mantra when preparing for competition.
“This means that no matter what the circumstance or where I’m competing or who’s watching, I am only competing for an audience of one –– God,” he said.
Eugene is one of Team Fiji Athletics triple jump athletes who is working towards qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan come July.
“I love the sport and I’ve always enjoyed representing Fiji and knowing that my gift and talent are a blessing from God, the more I use them the more I give all honour and praise back to Him.”
The 31-year-old Sigatoka native is one of several athletes from different sports hoping to join Team Fiji rugby men’s and women’s sevens teams in Japan.
Eugene, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Scholarship recipient, has been Fiji’s No,.1 triple jumper for over a decade and has won individual titles from his time participating in the Twisties and Milo Games, before winning gold medals as a high school student for Marist Brothers High School and later representing the country at the Pacific Mini Games, Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games and many other national, regional and international athletic titles.
Despite his very impressive record, Eugene, who describes himself as obsessed said he was grateful to surround himself with people that kept him grounded.
“Father Tevita Kabakoro, for a brief moment of my childhood, was one of my inspirations,” he said. “Father Tevita Kabakoro was our neighbour in Sigatoka and every afternoon we played the game of Fairy (3 sticks).
“I found the game to be quiet amusing but Father Kabakoro was giving me cues on how to jump further and I would survive the whole game without being eliminated.”
Eugene said he would end up beating everyone in his neighborhood, even the big kids from high school. He said Father Kabakoro always told him that he could become the best in Fiji if only he put in the time.
“Years later, while working for Athletics Fiji, I came across the triple jump results from the 1963 Pacific Games in Suva and found Father Kabakoro’s results,” Eugene said.
“At one point in his career, he held the Fiji national record in the triple jump.”
Eugene also credits his Fresno Pacific University coach Jonathan ‘JT’ Thiesen who continues to assist him with training despite being hundreds of miles apart.
“Thank God for social media, because now when training I can do so live with coach JT watching and giving me tips on what I can improve on and so on,” he said.
“Not any amount of words can describe how amazing and awesome JT is as a coach.
“I wish that he was healthy enough to attend all my competitions as he’s one of my biggest inspirations and mentors.”
Despite being Fiji’s number one triple jumper, Eugene said there were difficulties that he faced in a sport where self motivation and self discipline could be an issue for athletes in individual events like the triple jump.
“Attitude is a huge factor in sports,” he said.
“It’s about how badly does one want it.”
“You can say you want it bad but if you’re not willing to give up your comfortable life to go after it then you’re not going to get it.”
He said in order to make training fun he would change training venues and routines to make things a little more interesting.
“A simple change from like training at Albert Park grounds for like a week instead of the stadium or doing off-season training in Sigatoka helps.
“What also helps is having like-minded teammates to train with.”
He said he had been fortunate enough train alongside teammates from the Laucala Athletics Club.
