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Fiji at the Olympics

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Fiji at the
Olympics
IOC codeFIJ
NOCFiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee
Websitewww.fasanoc.org.fj
Medals
Ranked 95th
Gold
2
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Total
4
Summer appearances
Winter appearances

Fiji made its Olympic Games debut at the 1956 Summer Games. It has competed at fourteen Summer Games and three Winter Games. Its athletes have taken part in archery, athletics, boxing, football, judo, sailing, shooting, swimming, weightlifting and rugby sevens.[1]

Fiji has won four Olympic medals, three in men's rugby sevens, and one in women's rugby sevens. Olympics rugby was first contested in 2016 and the Fiji men's team is the most successful of any country, winning gold in 2016 and 2020, and silver in 2024. The women's team won bronze in 2020.

History

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Qualifications

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Prior to the introduction of rugby sevens, Fiji's national sport, at the 2016 Summer Olympics,[2] only two athletes had 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.[3][4]

Invitations

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Fiji's Winter Olympians were Rusiate Rogoyawa in cross-country skiing (1988, 1994) and Laurence Thoms in alpine skiing (2002), both participating by invite.

Notable participants

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Fiji has had two competitors appear at five separate Summer Olympic Games. Windsurfer Tony Philp competed in five consecutive Games from Los Angeles in 1984 (when he was just 15 years of age) to Sydney 2000, finishing 10th on two occasions.[5] Swimmer Carl Probert matched the feat in Beijing 2008, having first appeared at the 1992 Summer Olympics at Barcelona.[6]

Medalling

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Fiji earned its first ever Olympic medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, a gold in men's rugby sevens.[7] The team broke out in a victory song that drew considerable online attention and Fiji declared a national holiday for the win.[8]

At the 2020 Olympics the team successfully defended its title, while the women's team took a bronze medal. At the 2024 Olympics the men's team won the silver medal.

Medal tables

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Medals by Summer sport

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SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
 Rugby sevens2114
Totals (1 entries)2114

List of medalists

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Summer sports

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Medal Name(s) Games Sport Event
 Gold Apisai Domolailai
Jasa Veremalua
Jerry Tuwai
Josua Tuisova
Kitione Taliga
Leone Nakarawa
Masivesi Dakuwaqa
Osea Kolinisau
Samisoni Viriviri
Savenaca Rawaca
Vatemo Ravouvou
Viliame Mata
Semi Kunatani
2016 Rio de Janeiro Rugby Sevens Men's tournament
 Gold Josua Vakurunabili
Iosefo Masi
Jiuta Wainiqolo
Meli Derenalagi
Jerry Tuwai
Napolioni Bolaca
Sireli Maqala
Kalione Nasoko
Asaeli Tuivuaka
Vilimoni Botitu
Waisea Nacuqu
Aminiasi Tuimaba
2020 Tokyo Rugby Sevens Men's tournament
 Bronze Vasiti Solikoviti
Sesenieli Donu
Raijieli Daveua
Rusila Nagasau
Ana Maria Roqica
Reapi Ulunisau
Lavenia Cavuru
Laisana Likuceva
Viniana Riwai
Alowesi Nakoci
Ana Naimasi
Roela Radiniyavuni
Lavenia Tinai
2020 Tokyo Rugby Sevens Women's tournament
 Silver Joji Nasova
Joseva Talacolo
Jerry Matana
Sevuloni Mocenacagi

Iosefo Masi
Ponepati Loganimasi
Terio Tamani
Waisea Nacuqu
Jerry Tuwai
Iowane Teba
Kaminieli Rasaku
Selestino Ravutaumada
Josaia Raisuqe
Filipe Sauturaga

2024 Paris Rugby Sevens Men's tournament

Multiple medalists

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Athlete Sex Sport Years Games Gold Silver Bronze Total
Jerry Tuwai M  Rugby sevens 2016–2024 Summer 2 1 0 3
Iosefo Masi M  Rugby sevens 2020–2024 Summer 1 1 0 2
Waisea Nacuqu M  Rugby sevens 2020–2024 Summer 1 1 0 2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fiji". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  2. ^ Brewer, Jerry (11 August 2016). "Fiji's rugby sevens team on the verge of making history at Rio Olympics". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  3. ^ "The London dream" Archived 2012-09-13 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji Times, 22 August 2011
  4. ^ Fiji at the Olympics, The Telegraph
  5. ^ "Tony Philp". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  6. ^ "Carl Probert". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  7. ^ Msallem, Habib (11 August 2016). "Fiji storms to first-ever men's rugby sevens gold at Rio 2016". rio2016.com. Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  8. ^ "The Fijian way: The people's team delivers 1st Olympic gold". Associated Press. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
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