I’m Proud Of Joe Rodan Jnr
Joseph Rodan Jnr was inducted into the 2019 Fiji Sports Hall of Fame at the South Sea Orchids in Nasau, Nadi on Friday night.
His father Joe Rodan Snr, who is also the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee president, received the award on behalf of his son who was away in Gold Coast, Australia attending the Oceania Athletics annual general meeting.
Rodan Snr said: “Sports run in the family, I won the award back in 1995 and Junior, affectionately known as JJ, was still in primary school. He is very active in sports.
“As a father you are proud that someone is following your footsteps. He was 17 years old he won his first gold medal in decathlon. He did well and he continues to be involved in sports.”
Jnr, who is lawyer and businessman, had represented Fiji in athletics at all levels from regional to international, in several events ranging from 100m, long jump, hurdles, pole vault to the most gruelling of all events, decathlon.
In decathlon he won his first gold at 17-yrs and went to represent Fiji for 10 years.
His most notable achievements are:
1994 – Oceania Athletics Championships U18 silver 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles;
1995, 1997, 1999, 2003 – Pacific and Mini Games-Gold decathlon; 1996- Samoa National Games: Gold 100m, Long Jump,110m Hurdles; 1998 – Commonwealth Games, Malaysia: 11th decathlon; 2002 – Commonwealth Games, Manchester: 12th decathlon, Pole Vault 4.45metres, Fiji record still stands today.
He was fortunate to receive a Government scholarship which enabled him to study and train in the USA from 1998-1999 and then a further UC Irvine scholarship from 2000- 2002.
During his time in the US, Joseph was awarded the Varsity Athlete of Year in 2001 by the UC Irvine, and NCAAA D2. He retired from the competition 2003 and in 2016 received a merit award from Oceania Athletics Association.
He is currently a member of Athletics Fiji executive board and 2018 was the athletics section manager to the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast.
He has also been appointed as the section manager for the athletics team to the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. Joseph was elected to the FASANOC executive board in 2018.
Edited by Osea Bola
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