Taekwondo Creates History

Another female athlete has created a piece of history for Fiji after Venice Traill secured a spot for Team Fiji in the sport of Taekwondo to this year's Olympic Games at the recent Oceania Taekwondo Olympic Qualifiers in Honiara, Solomon Islands over the weekend (6th April).

Fighting in the +67 kg category, Venice defeated Lyneth Maniasi from the Solomon Islands to secure Fiji's first ever participation for the sport at this year's Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Teammates Nipesh Prakash (+80 kg) and Lolohea Naitasi (-67kg) missed out on qualifying after losing the finals in both their respective weight categories.

Fiji Taekwondo Association president Nimesh Narayan said Venice earned her spot through her dedication and pure determination.

"As an association, we are very proud of her achievement and we wish her well as she focuses on the challenge of preparing and competing at the Olympics," he said.

Venice joins Gibson Mara from Papua New Guinea and New Zealanders EisaMozhdeh and Jemesa Landers and four Australians Bailey Lewis, Leon Sejranovic , Saffron Tambyrajah and Stacey Hymer as athletes that have secure slots from the Oceania Region for the Olympics.

The Oceania Taekwondo Olympic Qualifiers was the last chance for Taekwondo athletes from the Oceania region to obtain quotas for the Paris 2024 Olympics, which will be held in July-August later this year.

With only the highest placed athlete in each of the eight weight classes at the Oceania Qualification Tournament obtaining the Olympic quotas, athletes had to win gold medals in their respective divisions to secure their places.

However, as National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Taekwondo made its first appearance at the Olympics as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Taekwondo became a full medal sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and has been a sport in the Olympic games since then.

For Olympic competition, there will be a single elimination tournament for each of the weight categories. The winner of the tournament final will receive the gold medal, and the loser will receive the silver medal while a Repechage competition will occur for the bronze medal contest.

Venice Traill's remarkable achievement not only signifies a triumph for Fiji but also serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide, embodying the Olympic ideals of perseverance, determination, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

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