Fiji_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics

Fiji at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Fiji at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Sporting event delegation


Fiji competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Since the nation's debut in 1956, Fijian athletes had taken part in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, except for two occasions. Fiji failed to register any athletes at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and joined the American-led boycott when Moscow hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics.

Quick Facts Fiji at the 2016 Summer Olympics, IOC code ...

Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games, due to the attendance of the men's football and rugby sevens teams. A total of 54 athletes, 37 men and 17 women, and 35 officials were registered to the Fijian squad across ten different sports.[2] There was only a single competitor in archery, boxing, judo, shooting, and table tennis, the country's sporting debut apart from the rugby sevens.

The Fijian team featured a number of returning Olympians, including archer Rob Elder, javelin thrower Leslie Copeland, swimmer Matelita Buadromo (women's 200 m freestyle), weightlifter Manueli Tulo (men's 56 kg), and judoka Josateki Naulu (men's 81 kg). 53-year-old trap shooter Glenn Kable, who had competed in every edition since 2004, was the oldest and most experienced member of the team, with 17-year-old table tennis player Sally Yee rounding out the field as the youngest member.[3] Rugby sevens team captain Osea Kolinisau was selected as Fiji's flag bearer for the opening ceremony.[1]

Fiji earned its first ever Olympic medal at these Games, with a gold from the men's rugby sevens team (led by Kolinisau).[4]

Medalists

More information Medal, Name ...

Archery

One Fijian archer qualified for the men's individual recurve at the Olympics with a top two finish at the Oceania Qualification Tournament in Nuku'alofa.[5][6]

Three-time Olympian Rob Elder scored a personal best of 635 during the qualification round to obtain a fifty-sixth position, before he was beaten three straight set by world no. 9 archer Wei Chun-heng of Chinese Taipei in his opening match.[7][8]

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Athletics

Fiji received two universality places from IAAF to compete in the Olympics.[9][10] These places were awarded to London 2012 javelin thrower and 2015 Pacific Games gold medalist Leslie Copeland, and sprinter Sisilia Seavula in the women's 100 metres.[11][12]

Seavula was among the fastest sprinters to progress beyond the prelims, but she finished eighth in the heats, resulting to her elimination.[13] Meanwhile, Copeland threw a best of 76.04 m to obtain the thirty-second position in the qualifying round of the men's javelin throw, unable to improve upon his thirteenth-place feat four years earlier in London.[14]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
  • NM = No mark
Track & road events
More information Athlete, Event ...
Field events
More information Athlete, Event ...

Boxing

Fiji received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a male boxer competing in the welterweight division to the Games, signifying the nation's return to the sport for the first time since 1988.[15][16] 2015 Pacific Games silver medalist Winston Hill lost his opening round bout to Armenia's Vladimir Margaryan through a unanimous decision, with the judges scored 3–0, in favor of the latter boxer.[17][18]

More information Athlete, Event ...

Football

Men's tournament

Fiji men's football team qualified for the Olympics by winning the Olympic qualifying final at the 2015 Pacific Games Football Tournament in Papua New Guinea.[19][20]

Team roster

On 8 July, the Fiji Football Association announced a 24-man preliminary squad for the men's football tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics.[21] On 16 July, the final 18-man squad was officially announced.[22] However, Kolinio Sivoki and Sakaraia Naisua were axed from the squad due to disciplinary reasons and Joseph Turagabeci joined the squad as a replacement.[23][24]

Head coach: Australia Frank Farina

More information No., Pos. ...

* Over-aged player.

Group play
More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: Rio2016 & FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information 0–8, South Korea ...

More information 1–5, Mexico ...

More information Germany, 10–0 ...

Judo

Fiji qualified one judoka for the men's light-middleweight category (81 kg) at the Games. London 2012 Olympian Josateki Naulu earned a continental quota spot from the Oceania region as the highest-ranked Fijian judoka outside of direct qualifying position in the IJF World Ranking List of 30 May 2016.[28] Naulu received a bye in the opening round, before facing Uzbekistan's Shakhzodbek Sabirov for his first match of the meet. He seized an early lead by scoring a yuko, until Sabirov clutched him on the tatami with a soto makikomi (outer wraparound) to score an ippon for a victory at one minute and thirty-one seconds, resulting to Naulu's defeat.

More information Athlete, Event ...

Rugby sevens

Men's tournament

The Fijian men's rugby sevens team qualified for the Olympics by having achieved one of the top four places at the 2014–15 Sevens World Series.[29][30]

Team roster

The following is the Fiji roster in the men's rugby sevens tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics.[31]

Head coach: Ben Ryan

More information No., Pos. ...
Group play
More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head result; 3) Point difference; 4) Points scored.
9 August 2016
13:30
Fiji 40–12 Brazil
Try: Veremalua (2) 6' c, 12' c
Kolinisau 8' c
Tuisova (2) 9' m, 13' c
Viriviri 10' c
Con: Kolinisau (2/2)
Ravouvou (3/4)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Try: Claro 4' m
Albuquerque 14' c
Con: Duque (0/1)
A. Silva (1/1)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)

9 August 2016
18:30
Fiji 21–14 Argentina
Try: Tuisova 2' c
Taliga (2) 11' c, 12' c
Con: Ravouvou (1/1)
Kolinisau (2/2)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Try: Sábato 5' c
Álvarez 8' c
Con: Revol (2/2)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)

10 August 2016
13:30
Fiji 24–19 United States
Try: Kolinisau 6' c
Ravouvou 7' m
Mata 9' c
Kunatani 12' m
Con: Kolinisau (2/3)
Ravouvou (0/1)
ReportTry: Barrett 4' c
Baker 8' c
Ebner 13' m
Con: Hughes (2/3)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
11 August 2016
14:30
Fiji 20–5 Japan
Try: Ravouvou 1' m
Tuisova 6' m
Kunatani 9' m
Tuwai 10' m
Con: Ravouvou (0/3)
Kolinisau (0/1)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Try: Goto 4' m
Con: Lemeki (0/1)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Mike Adamson (Great Britain)
Gold medal match
11 August 2016
19:00
1st place, gold medalist(s) Fiji 43–7 Great Britain 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Try: Kolinisau 1' m
Tuwai 3' c
Veremalua 7' m
Nakarawa 8' m
Ravouvou 10' c
Tuisova 14' c
Mata 19' c
Con: Ravouvou (1/2)
Kolinisau (2/4)
Taliga (1/1)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Try: Norton 16' c
Con: Watson (1/1)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
More information Team details ...

Women's tournament

The Fijian women's rugby sevens team qualified for the Olympics by winning the 2015 FORU Women's Sevens Championships.[32]

Team roster

The following is the Fiji roster in the women's rugby sevens tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics.[33]

Head coach: Chris Cracknell

  • Jiowana Sauto was included in the day 3 squad after Daveau was injured in day 2.
Group play
More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head result; 3) Point difference; 4) Points scored.

6 August 2016
18:30
Australia 36–0 Fiji
Try: Cherry 1' c
Tonegato (2) 4' m, 13' c
Caslick 5' c
Green 10' m
Dalton 14' m
Con: Dalton (3/6)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Sara Cox (Great Britain)

7 August 2016
13:00
Fiji 36–0 Colombia
Try: Daveau (2) 1' c, 3' m
Tinai 5' c
Roqica 7' m
Riwai 9' c
Nagasau 14' m
Con: Tinai (2/4)
Riwai (1/1)
Tisolo (0/1)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Rose Labreche (Canada)
Quarterfinal
7 August 2016
18:00
Great Britain 26–7 Fiji
Try: Brown (2) 1' c, 12' c
Richardson 4' c
Waterman 7' m
Con: McLean (3/4)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Try: Naiqato 3' c
Con: Tinai (1/1)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Classification semifinal (5–8)
8 August 2016
14:00
Fiji 7–12 United States
Try: Tavo 4' c
Con: Tinai (1/1)
Report (Rio 2016)
Report (World Rugby)
Try: Kelter 10' c
Stephens 12' m
Con: Kelter (1/1)
Baravilala (0/1)
Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Referee: Jess Beard (New Zealand)
Seventh place match

Shooting

Fiji qualified one shooter in the men's trap by securing one of the available Olympic berths at the 2015 Oceania Continental Championships in Sydney, Australia.[34][35]

More information Athlete, Event ...

Swimming

Fiji received a Universality invitation from FINA to send two swimmers (one male and one female) to the Olympics.[36][37][38]

More information Athlete, Event ...

Table tennis

Fiji entered one athlete into the table tennis competition at the Games for the first time in the nation's Olympic history. Sally Yee secured a spot in the women's singles by virtue of her top three finish at the 2016 Oceania Qualification Tournament in Bendigo, Australia.[39]

More information Athlete, Event ...

Weightlifting

Fiji qualified one male and one female weightlifter for the Rio Olympics by virtue of a top five national finish (for men) and top four (for women), respectively, at the 2016 Oceania Championships.[40] The team must allocate these places to individual athletes by 20 June 2016.

More information Athlete, Event ...

References

  1. Malo, Maciu (21 July 2016). "Fiji's flag bearer". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  2. Nasokia, Waisea (30 July 2016). "54 Athletes, 32 Officials For Rio Olympics". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. "Finger on the trigger". Fiji Times. 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  4. "Tonga and Fiji archers qualify for Olympics". Nuku'alofa Times. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. "Elder aims to lift game". Fiji Times. 31 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  6. "Elder Qualifies For Next Round". Fiji Sun. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  7. "Fijian trio bundled out". Fiji Times. 10 August 2016. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  8. "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. "Copeland and Seavula aiming for best performance at Rio Olympics". Fiji Village. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  10. "Copeland through to Rio". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  11. "Seavula finishes last in 100m heats". Fiji Village. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. "Sport: Team Fiji concludes historic Olympic campaign". Radio New Zealand. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  13. "Hill Books Olympic Spot". Fiji Sun. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  14. "Hill to represent Fiji boxing at Rio Olympics". Fiji Village. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  15. "Boxing opponent faces toughest 'Hill'=Fiji Times". 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  16. "Fiji win penalty shoot-out to qualify for men's football tournament at Rio 2016 Games". Rio 2016. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  17. "Fiji fairytale continues with Rio ticket". FIFA. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  18. "Olympians in camp for Rio". Fiji Football Association. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  19. "Football team named for Olympics". Fijilive. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  20. "Fiji duo out". Fiji Times. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  21. "Duo dropped from Fiji men's soccer team to Rio". Fiji Village. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  22. "Match Report: FIJ vs KOR" (PDF). Rio 2016 Official Website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  23. "Match Report: FIJ vs MEX" (PDF). Rio 2016 Official Website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  24. "Match Report: GER vs FIJ" (PDF). Rio 2016 Official Website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  25. Seru, Maikeli (5 June 2016). "Rio bound". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  26. "SA and Fiji qualify for Rio Olympics". SuperSport. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  27. "Fiji's Team To Rio". Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic. 20 July 2016.
  28. Pavitt, Michael (15 November 2015). "Australia and Fiji earn Rio 2016 rugby sevens berths by clinching Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship titles". Inside The Games. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  29. "Fiji's Team To Rio". Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic. 20 July 2016.
  30. "Quota Places by Nation and Number". www.issf-sports.org/. ISSF. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  31. "Aussies dominate Championship with four more quotas". Australian Olympic Committee. 29 November 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  32. "Swimming World Rankings". FINA. Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  33. "Rio 2016 – FINA Swimming Qualification System" (PDF). Rio 2016. FINA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  34. Malo, Maciu (10 July 2016). "Buadromo ready to face the worlds [sic] best swimmers". The Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  35. Marshall, Ian (25 March 2016). "Names Decided for Final Stage of Oceania Olympic Games Qualifier". ITTF. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.

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