Fiji at the Olympics
Encyclopedia
Fiji
, having made its Olympic début at the 1956 Summer Games
, has competed at twelve Summer Games and three Winter Games. Its athletes have taken part in athletics, judo, shooting, swimming and weightlifting, but have never won a medal.
As of August 2011, two athletes from Fiji have taken part in Olympic Games through reaching the required standards to qualify, rather than by receiving a wild card
invitation. They are Makelesi Bulikiobo
, who qualified for the women's 400 metre sprint at the 2008 Games in Beijing, and Leslie Copeland, who with a throw of 80.45 metres qualified for the men's javelin event at the 2012 Games in London.
Fiji's Winter Olympians were Rusiate Rogoyawa
in cross-country skiing
(1988, 1994) and Laurence Thoms
in alpine skiing
(2002).
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, having made its Olympic début at the 1956 Summer Games
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
, has competed at twelve Summer Games and three Winter Games. Its athletes have taken part in athletics, judo, shooting, swimming and weightlifting, but have never won a medal.
As of August 2011, two athletes from Fiji have taken part in Olympic Games through reaching the required standards to qualify, rather than by receiving a wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
invitation. They are Makelesi Bulikiobo
Makelesi Bulikiobo
Makelesi Bulikiobo Batimala is a Fiji Islands sprinter.- Biography :Nicknamed the "Sprint Queen" by the Fiji Times and Fiji Village, she has represented her country in several international competitions, including the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She won four gold medals at the 2003 South...
, who qualified for the women's 400 metre sprint at the 2008 Games in Beijing, and Leslie Copeland, who with a throw of 80.45 metres qualified for the men's javelin event at the 2012 Games in London.
Fiji's Winter Olympians were Rusiate Rogoyawa
Rusiate Rogoyawa
Rusiate Rogoyawa is a former Fiji Islands cross-country skier.-Winter Olympics:He represented Fiji at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, finishing 83rd in the 15 kilometre cross-country event. He had reportedly "learned to ski while studying electrical engineering in Oslo". He competed again at...
in cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
(1988, 1994) and Laurence Thoms
Laurence Thoms
Laurence Thoms is a Fijian alpine skier who was born in Suva. He represented Fiji at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and attracted media attention as a competitor from a tropical nation at the Winter Olympics....
in alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
(2002).
External links
- Fiji. Olympics at Sports-Reference.com