Team Fiji men’s rugby sevens captain Jerry Tuwai offered his Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medal to head coach Gareth Baber after the medal presentation at the Tokyo Stadium, Japan, on Wednesday night.

Tuwai who is the first Fijian athlete to win two Olympic Games gold medals felt for the coach Baber since the Olympic Games gold medals were given to the athletes only.

This was revealed by Baber during an interview with Radio New Zealand.

“Jerry was trying to give me his medal,” Baber laughed.

“I said I’m not going to be taking that off you and he said no, no I won one, you have this one because that’s the man that he is.”

“He would never take the credit for what he has done and he has achieved.”

“It’s a phenomenal feat to have done what he’s done.”

Baber said it has been a difficult year for the Fijian team and the country as well.

“We were locked down in Fiji, then we went to Australia where we were quarantined for a period of time and I’ve got to pay a special mention to the players and staff who have done this,” he said.

“They came into a training camp on Easter Monday thinking they were going back on Friday.”

“On the Tuesday they were told they couldn’t go back and they haven’t seen their family since then.”

“I think what you saw out there over the last three days has been the resilience of the group dealing with whatever’s been thrown our way.”

Baber also paid tribute to the impact of newcomers Jiuta Wainiqolo, Sireli Maqala and Iosefo Masi, who only made their international debut in Townsville, Australia, last month.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
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