Olympic Mission Set: Takayawa

The Takayawa is a household name for judo in Fiji.

And carrying on the legacy is former judo champion Viliame Takayawa’s son, Tevita Maxwell Takayawa.

Besides representing Fiji in international events, the Tovu, Totoya, Lau native will be Team Fiji’s representative at the Tokyo Olympics next month.

He shares maternal links to Nairai in Lomaiviti.

“My dream at first was to attend and win at the Pacific Games but after winning the Oceania tournament, I changed my goals and target to make the Tokyo Olympics,” the 25-year-old said.

“My father, brothers and cousins all represented Fiji at international tournaments and are Pacific and Oceania champions. They inspired me and drove me to achieve better than them.

“My family is extremely proud of me because they have been with me from the very beginning, and they know how much I’ve sacrificed to get to where I am.

“I spent my 21 st birthday attending morning and afternoon training.

He started judo when he was about three years old at the Nabua judo club. It was a family affair for the Takayawa’s where lifelong lessons were learnt.

“Everyone in my family were involved in judo, we all started at a very young age.

Some continue to do the sport, and some pursue other sports or other things in life, but the lessons learnt in Judo is engraved in us and we live through its philosophy in our daily lives.

“I’ve had so many role models in the sport that I looked up to when I was younger.

“My father Viliame Takayawa Snr, my brothers Naca, James and Nemani, the eldest Vili who trained me in swimming and helped me get into the Fiji Swim team, Josateki Naulu and international stars like Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. Tevita initially thought his Olympic dream would end when he was injured in 2019. He was grateful that the Games had been postponed allowing him to fully recover.

“At the end of 2019 I suffered a bad injury that required surgery and I had to fast track my recovery so that I could attend more qualifying events for the Olympic Games in 2020 so when I heard that the games were postponed, it was bittersweet for me.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has carried on longer than expected and it has given me more time to recover but fewer opportunities to train and compete overseas. So, it was a challenge to maintain my body physically and mentally.

“I am very fortunate to be here in Japan surrounded by a very supportive team. I have attended some very key judo events this year and I will be training at my university till the day I am required to enter the Olympic Village next month.

But his Olympics dream would not be possible without his support system. “I would like to thank God for granting me the wisdom and strength throughout my journey.

The former Holy Trinity Anglican School and Suva Grammar School student is a Business Law student at the Ryutsu Keizai University in Japan..

Feedback:  sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj