Moceisawana Welcomes Challenge

Despite the inclusion of several other sprinters in the Fijiana Sevens extended squad preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 2022 Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s silver medalist Laisana Moceisawana welcomes the challenge of trying to make the final team.

Hailing from Somosomo, Taveuni, the 26-year-old athlete was once hailed as the fastest girl over 100 meters at the 2017 Coca Cola Games before transitioning to Rugby a few years later.

Graduating with an engineering degree from the University of the South Pacific, Laisana brings both speed and intellect to the field. However, she's not the sole sprint queen in the team, as she shares the stage with the likes of Younis Bese, the 2015 Coca Cola champion, and Heleina Young, the 2018 100m Champion.

"With all these women in the team it will be a hard journey to make the team for the Olympics but right now I'm glad to be a part of this experience and a part of the Fijiana sevens extended squad," said Laisana.

Laisana said to be a part of an Olympic games is a dream for any serious athlete.

"Whilst in High School and later University I always thought about returning to athletics but then I watched the girls win that bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan," she said.

"And this inspired me to try rugby and I loved the environment and atmosphere and have stuck to the sport ever since."

Laisana said she has always been surrounded by sports people from her time in High school at Adi Cakobau School to members of her family which includes Olympian gold medalist Semi Radradra and Melbourne Storm and Fiji Bati captain Tui Kamikamica.

Despite being related to these well-known Fiji athletes’, Laisana is forging her own path and hopes that she will get that opportunity to represent Fiji at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Laisana was named in the Fijiana sevens team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where she helped side win the silver medal.

The Fijiana sevens team is now boosted with young and fast wingers like Maria Rokotuisiga, LaisaniLikuceva, MeredaniQoro, Younis Bese, Heleina Young and Laisana.

“There is a lot of good competition for this vital position which is good challenge for us,” Saiasi said.

The rugby sevens tournaments at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to run from 24 to 30 July at Stade de France.

For the first time, the rugby sevens men’s matches will commence two days before the opening ceremony with the pool and quarterfinal stages. The competition takes a break for the Opening Ceremony on 26 July before the medal-winning teams are officially unveiled a day later. The women's tournament will be held between 28 and 30 July, culminating with the gold and bronze medal matches.

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