In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, closed borders and travel restrictions, the Kiribati NOC still managed to have athletes in three disciplines representing them in Tokyo in July 2021.
First up was Ruben Katoatau (24), younger brother of 2014 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist David. He had been in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast where he placed 6th. of 14. He had been training in Nauru. On July 25 he was in the 67 kg. class and achieved lifts of 105 kg. (snatch) and 140 kg. (clean and jerk) to total 245 kg. This ranked him 4th. of 4 in Group B. (Image)
Next came female judoka Nei Kinaua Biribo. She had been training in Budapest, had competed in the 2021 World Judo Championships, and was ranked 177 in the world. On July 28 she competed in the 70 kg. class in the "Elimination Round of 32" where she lost to Australian Aoife Coughlan. (Image)
Finally, last Saturday July 31, Lataisi Mwea - having celebrated his 21st. birthday on Monday as he flew in from Australia (where he has been living and training since June 2019) - raced in the Preliminary Round Heat 1 of the Mens' 100m. He had the experience of running in lane 5 (usually reserved for the fastest qualifier !) on the home straight of the Olympic Stadium ! While living in Australia, initially preparing for perhaps competing in the High Jump in Tokyo in 2020, he set a new Kiribati Mens' High Jump National Record with a 2.00m. clearance. By March 2020 he could not fly home and switched training emphasis to sprints, with a new coach. The pandemic and its border-closures and travel restrictions have kept him on Gold Coast ever since, runnung for the "Ignition" Club, mostly competing in Brisbane. Earlier this year he broke the KAA National Record for M200m. with 22.54 and has been close to the 100m. record. Based on his consistency of performance, KNOC entered him for the delayed Tokyo 2020, but in the 100m. ! (Image)
And so he raced. He finished 8th. of the 9 runners, clocking 11.25, not far off his PB. But the race itself is only half the story. He was there on merit, doing his best on the day and representing his country with pride. The fact remains for Athletics in Kiribati that they need to use their upgraded track at the RKU National Stadium on Tarawa to generate male sprinters who can run sub-11 100m. Then they can begin to hope to one day join the world's best in the Heats. (Image of screen shot of the Lataisi result.)
Last Modified on 03/08/2021 07:32