Kaiwalu training ‘My Level Best’
Malakai Kaiwalu, 24, is confident of representing Fiji in the high jump event at the Pacific Games in Samoa in July.
He competed with the athletics squad during the Shop N Save Grand Prix at Churchill Park, Lautoka yesterday.
Kaiwalu hails from the island of Vatulele, and is determined to win gold for Fiji.
He started competing in the event as a sub junior for Xavier College.
“I won my first gold medal during Coke Games in 2008 for Xavier College at sub-junior level.
“But in my second year competing at the intermediate level, I broke Tony Rahiman’s high jump record from 1.96 to 2.01m which was the new record for inter boys in 2012.”
In 2016, he represented Fiji in the Melanesian Games in Suva where he equaled the national record of 2.09m.
Since then he has represented Fiji at the Oceania Games, Pacific Mini Games in 2017 where he picked up another gold medal. He also took part in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
“I’ve qualified through the second trials for the Pacific Games squad and I am aiming to get gold for Fiji. I’m training at my level best.
“Penial Richards of Papua New Guinea is my main competitor.
I am always competing with him, his personal best is 2.05m and my best is 2.09.
“I started training at the end of last year and I’m aiming to get another personal best.
“My coach Benidito Qumi has taught me to be disciplined and to aim high.”
He graduated last year with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the Fiji National University.
Edited by Osea Bola
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