Vibose A Special Athlete: Qoro
Mereoni Vibose was one of Fiji’s exceptional athletes, says Gabrielli Qoro.
The former national rep delivered the eulogy for Athletics Fiji during the funeral service of the late Vibose at Raiwaqa, Mavua,Nadroga yesterday.
“We have not seen someone in our generation to achieve what she had in her career,” Qoro said.
“I looked up to her during my days and no one from Athletics Fiji has achieved such a feat in her favourite discipline, javelin. She was a good role model.”
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- From left: Gabriel Qoro, Kasanita Nadruku, Lorraine Mar, Seruwaia Hong-Tiy, a fan, and Salome Tabuatalei during the funeral at Raiwaqa, Mavua in Nadroga on February 2, 2018. Photo: Waisea Nasokia
Families, friends and former athletes turned up to pay their last respects to Vibose who was inducted into the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) Hall of Fame in 1998.
FASANOC chief executive officer Lorraine Mar said the athletics fraternity had lost one of the best javelin throwers and discus specialists.
“Mereoni was a very humble, respectful and dedicated person,” she said in her eulogy at the Raiwaqa Methodist Church.
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- The late Mereoni Vibose
Mar recalled Vibose retired from the sport in 1991.
“But she surprised us in 2016 when she told us that she will be going to the World Masters Championships.
“She asked if she could get a track suit to wear at the event. We were honoured to give her that track suit where she competed in 65 age category and finished in fourth place.”
“From her time of induction she held two records in javelin and discus which was not broken for more than 15 years.”
She moved to Australia in 1983 with the help of Atma Maharaj for five years where she competed in the New South Wales Championship and the Australian Championship.
Also present at the funeral were former national athletic, football and volleyball rep Kasanita Kurisalili Nadruku, former national hockey rep Seruwaia Hong-Tiy and distance runner Salome Tabuatalei.
Vibose’s athletics career started when she attended Adi Cakobau School.
She represented Fiji in six Pacific Games, two Commonwealth Games and two World Athletics Championships.
She retired from athletics in 1991 after 22 years of being the best athlete in the Pacific in her chosen discipline, having won three gold, four silver and two bronze medals during her career.
She was also a physical education teacher at Dudley High School before she returned to her village to do farming.
Vibose died at the Sigatoka Hospital last Saturday at the age of 66 after a short illness.
Edited by Osea Bola
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