Tokyo 2020 was his target !
When Lataisi started his training scholarship at the Oceania AA HQ on Gold Coast, Australia, in June 2019, he was being prepared for possible entry into the Mens' High Jump at the 32nd. Olymic Games in Tokyo 2020. There was some confusion about the meaning of "qualifying height" when his first Assessment was published in September 2019. It does not mean "qualifying to enter": it actually means "automatic qualification for the final" ! Once this had been clarified, his training continued, with financial support.
On March 23 2020, with a possible short-term target having been decided as the Micronesia Championships in Saipan in June, the world was hit by novel Coronavirus Covid-19. Australia immediately put in measures which limited contact and movement, plus access to facilities - which promptly closed ! So, once OAA had postponed the Micronesia and Melanesia Championships from June, it became a matter of would these be held at all ? Then the Tokyo Olympics were totally postponed to July 2021; so that target had moved out of sight !
On May 6th. 2020, that is the current situation. Australia and New Zealand have started to discuss air travel between them. Some other Oceania countries have started to repatriate their nationals. But while borders and airports stay closed, Lataisi stays ! (In image on left of group)
On July 26th. Lataisi is still in Australia. His visa expires on August 31 but it is earnestly hoped that an extension will not be required ! Financial support for him is due to finish on July 31. In spite of local spikes in virus activity in Australia, it may still be possible for him to fly out and home soon.
On February 16th. 2021, with no safe route or procedure having yet been established to repatriate him, Lataisi remains with OAA on Gold Coast. To improve his approach acceleration for High Jump (the original event for which he went to Australia in 2019), he has been training for several months on sprints. So in Brisbane, on January 30th., 2021, he set a new M200m. National Record clocking 22.61 seconds. That is now added to his HJ NR from October 2019 !
There are further regular updates on Lataisi elsewhere on Kiribati AA News.
Last Modified on 18/02/2021 03:51