Fiji at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Fiji at the 2016 Summer Olympics
IOC code	FIJ
NOC	Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee
Website	www.fijiolympiccommittee.com
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors	54 in 10 sports
Flag bearer	Osea Kolinisau[1]
Medals Ranked 54th	Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 0 0 1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

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 eventually joined the American-led boycott when Moscow hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics.

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

Medal Name Sport Event Date  Gold Fiji national rugby sevens team Veremalua, JasaJasa Veremalua   Domolailai, ApisaiApisai Domolailai Taliga, KitioneKitione Taliga   Tuisova, JosuaJosua Tuisova Kunatani, SemiSemi Kunatani   Mata, ViliameViliame Mata Nakarawa, LeoneLeone Nakarawa   Ravouvou, VatemoVatemo Ravouvou Kolinisau, OseaOsea Kolinisau   Rawaca, SavenacaSavenaca Rawaca Tuwai, JerryJerry Tuwai   Dakuwaqa, MasivesiMasivesi Dakuwaqa Viriviri, SamisoniSamisoni Viriviri Rugby sevens Men's tournament 11 August 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] Athlete Event Ranking round Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM Score Seed Opposition Score Opposition Score Opposition Score Opposition Score Opposition Score Opposition Score Rank Rob Elder Men's individual 635 56  Wei C-h (TPE) L 0–6 Did not advance Athletics Fiji received two universiality 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 Men Field events Athlete Event Qualification Final Distance Position Distance Position Leslie Copeland Javelin throw 76.04 32 Did not advance Women Track & road events Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Sisilia Seavula 100 m 12.34 2 Q 12.48 8 Did not advance Boxing Fiji has 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] Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Rank Winston Hill Men's welterweight  Margaryan (ARM) L 0–3 Did not advance Football Summary Key: A.E.T – After extra time. P – Match decided by penalty-shootout. Team Event Group Stage Quarterfinal Semifinal Final / BM Opposition Score Opposition Score Opposition Score Rank Opposition Score Opposition Score Opposition Score Rank Fiji men's Men's tournament  South Korea L 0–8  Mexico L 1–5  Germany L 0–10 4 Did not advance 16 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, two players were axed from the squad due to disciplinary reasons and Joseph Turagabeci joined the squad as a replacement.[23] Head coach: Frank Farina 0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals 2016 club 1 GK Simione Tamanisau* 5 June 1982 (aged 34) 0 0 Rewa 2 DF Praneel Naidu 29 January 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Ba 3 DF Filipe Baravilala 25 November 1994 (aged 21) 0 0 Suva 4 DF Jale Dreloa 21 April 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Suva 5 MF Antonio Tuivuna 20 March 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Nadi 6 FW Anish Khem 27 September 1993 (aged 22) 0 0 Nadi 7 MF Nickel Chand 28 July 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Suva 8 FW Setareki Hughes 8 June 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Rewa 9 FW Roy Krishna* (c) 30 August 1987 (aged 28) 0 0 Wellington Phoenix 10 MF Ratu Nakalevu 7 March 1994 (aged 22) 0 0 Rewa 11 DF Alvin Singh* 9 June 1988 (aged 28) 0 0 Ba 12 MF Tevita Waranaivalu 16 September 1995 (aged 20) 0 0 Rewa 13 FW Iosefo Verevou 1 May 1996 (aged 20) 0 0 Rewa 14 FW Samuela Nabenia 9 February 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Ba 15 FW Saula Waqa 10 December 1995 (aged 20) 0 0 Ba 16 MF Joseph Turagabeci 19 November 1994 (aged 21) 0 0 Suva 18 GK Shaneel Naidu 28 March 1995 (aged 21) 0 0 Dreketi * Over-aged player. Group play Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification 1  South Korea 3 2 1 0 12 3 +9 7 Quarter-finals 2  Germany 3 1 2 0 15 5 +10 5 3  Mexico 3 1 1 1 7 4 +3 4 4  Fiji 3 0 0 3 1 23 −22 0 Source: Rio2016 & FIFA Rules for classification: Tiebreakers Fiji  v  South Korea 4 August 2016 20:00 Fiji  0–8  South Korea Report (Rio2016) Report (FIFA) Ryu Seung-woo  32', 63', 90+3' Kwon Chang-hoon  62', 63' Son Heung-min  72' (pen.) Suk Hyun-jun  77', 90' Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Attendance: 16,000[24] Referee: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal) Fiji  v  Mexico 7 August 2016 13:00 Fiji  1–5  Mexico Krishna  10' Report (Rio2016) Report (FIFA) Gutiérrez  48', 55', 58', 73' Salcedo  67' Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Attendance: 11,200[25] Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt) Germany  v  Fiji 10 August 2016 16:00 Germany  10–0  Fiji Gnabry  8', 45' Petersen  14', 33', 40', 63' (pen.), 70' Meyer  30', 49', 52' Report (Rio2016) Report (FIFA) Mineirão, Belo Horizonte Attendance: 16,521[26] Referee: Fahad Al-Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia) Judo Fiji has 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 May 30, 2016.[27] 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. Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Final / BM Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Rank Josateki Naulu Men's −81 kg Bye  Sabirov (UZB) L 001–100 Did not advance 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.[28][29] Team roster The following is the Fiji roster in the men's rugby sevens tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics.[30] Head coach: Ben Ryan 0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Events Points Union 1 FW Apisai Domolailai April 16, 1989 (aged 27) 20 117 Daveta 2 FW Jasa Veremalua May 29, 1988 (aged 28) 24 255 Red Rock 3 FW Semi Kunatani October 27, 1990 (aged 25) 19 295 Toulouse 4 FW Viliame Mata October 22, 1991 (aged 24) 9 55 Edinburgh 5 FW Leone Nakarawa April 02, 1988 (aged 28) 7 35 Racing 92 6 BK Kitione Taliga April 21, 1993 (aged 23) 9 183 Wardens 7 BK Osea Kolinisau (c) November 17, 1985 (aged 30) 52 1,026 Covenant Brothers 8 BK Josua Tuisova February 04, 1994 (aged 22) 2 30 Toulon 9 BK Jerry Tuwai March 23, 1989 (aged 27) 18 222 Daveta 10 BK Samisoni Nasagavesi April 25, 1988 (aged 28) 24 520 Montauban 11 BK Savenaca Rawaca August 20, 1991 (aged 24) 16 385 Saracens 12 BK Vatemo Ravouvou July 31, 1990 (aged 26) 12 542 Westfield Dragons 13 FW Masivesi Dakuwaqa February 14, 1994 (aged 22) 5 55 Westfield Dragons Group play Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification 1  Fiji 3 3 0 0 85 45 +40 9 Quarter-finals 2  Argentina 3 2 0 1 62 35 +27 7 3  United States 3 1 0 2 59 41 +18 5 4  Brazil 3 0 0 3 12 97 −85 3 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) Report Try: Barrett 4' c Baker 8' c Ebner 13' m Con: Hughes (2/3) Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand) Quarterfinal 10 August 2016 17:00 Fiji  12–7  New Zealand Try: Kolinisau 2' m Tuwai 8' c Con: Ravouvou (0/1) Kolinisau (1/1) Report (Rio 2016) Report (World Rugby) Try: Kaka 6' c Con: Pulu (1/1) Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa) 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 Fiji  43–7  Great Britain 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) Women's tournament The Fijian women's rugby sevens team qualified for the Olympics by winning the 2015 FORU Women's Sevens Championships.[31] Team roster The following is the Fiji roster in the women's rugby sevens tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics.[32] Head coach: Chris Cracknell Backs Forwards 3 Raijieli Daveau 1 Litia Naiqato 4 Asena Rokomarama 2 Merewai Cumu 7 Rusila Nagasau 5 Timaima Tamoi 8 Lavenia Tinai 6 Rebecca Tavo 9 Ana Maria Roqica (c) 13 Jiowana Sauto 10 Viniana Riwai 11 Luisa Tisolo 12 Timaima Ravisa Jiowana Sauto was included in the day 3 squad after Daveau was injured in day 2. Group play Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification 1  Australia 3 2 1 0 101 12 +89 8 Quarter-finals 2  Fiji 3 2 0 1 48 43 +5 7 3  United States 3 1 1 1 67 24 +43 6 4  Colombia 3 0 0 3 0 137 −137 3 Source: World Rugby Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head result. 6 August 2016 13:00 United States  7–12  Fiji Try: Kelter 10' c Con: Baravilala (1/1) Report (Rio 2016) Report (World Rugby) Try: Tisolo 4' c Ravisa 8' m Con: Tisolo (1/2) Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa) 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 8 August 2016 17:30 Spain  21–0  Fiji Try: P. García 3' c Erbina 5' c Etxebarría 7' c Con: P. García (3/3) Report (Rio 2016) Report (World Rugby) Deodoro Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Referee: Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy) Shooting Fiji has 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.[33][34] Athlete Event Qualification Semifinal Final Points Rank Points Rank Points Rank Glenn Kable Men's trap 112 23 Did not advance Swimming Fiji has received a Universality invitation from FINA to send two swimmers (one male and one female) to the Olympics.[35][36][37] Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Meli Malani Men's 50 m freestyle 23.88 51 Did not advance Matelita Buadromo Women's 200 m freestyle 2:05.49 40 Did not advance Table tennis Fiji has 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.[38] Athlete Event Preliminary Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Opposition Result Rank Sally Yee Women's singles  Edem (NGR) L 0–4 Did not advance Weightlifting Fiji has 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.[39] The team must allocate these places to individual athletes by June 20, 2016. Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank Result Rank Result Rank Manueli Tulo Men's −56 kg 106 16 136 13 242 13 Apolonia Vaivai Women's −69 kg 88 15 113 11 201 11 References Malo, Maciu (21 July 2016). "Fiji's flag bearer". Fiji Times. 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