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 at the Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | FIJ |
| NOC | Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| Medals Ranked 95th |
|
| Summer appearances | |
| Winter appearances | |
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
editQualifications
editPrior 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
editFiji'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
editFiji 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
editFiji 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
edit
Medals by Summer sport
edit| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rugby sevens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Totals (1 entries) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
List of medalists
editSummer sports
edit| 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 Lavena 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 |
2024 Paris | Rugby Sevens |
Men's tournament |
Multiple medalists
edit| 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
edit
References
edit- ^ "Fiji". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The London dream" Archived 2012-09-13 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji Times, 22 August 2011
- ^ Fiji at the Olympics, The Telegraph
- ^ "Tony Philp". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- ^ "Carl Probert". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Fijian way: The people's team delivers 1st Olympic gold". Associated Press. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
External links
edit- "Fiji". International Olympic Committee. 4 August 2021.
- "Fiji". Olympedia.com.
- "Olympic Analytics/FIJ". olympanalyt.com.