Suva Grammar Runner Defies All Odds

John Riccardo is a lion at heart.

The Suva Grammar School senior boys’ long distance run­ner is asthmatic and has Type 1 dia­betes.

He took part in the recent Coke Games in the 800 metres, 1500 and 4x400m relay where they won silver.

The Year 12 teenager from Navuso Village, Naitasiri, proved that noth­ing was impossible.

He qualified from the Suva Zone 2, the toughest of the zones under the Fiji Secondary Schools Athlet­ics Association because it includes schools like, Marist, Lomary, Nabua and Gospel.

“I did not win any medals in my individual events but I finished both races, they were tough but I did it,” he said.

“I love running, I did not want to miss out, I am passionate about Cokes.”

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which your immune system de­stroys insulin-making cells in your pancreas.

It is usually genetic.

This happens because the body at­tacks the cells in the pancreas that make the insulin, meaning the body can’t produce any at all.

We all need insulin to regulate glucose levels in the bloodstream.

Riccardo has his insulin dose eve­ry month.

His faith in God is unwavering as it helps him endure the tough times and challenges he need to conquer.

His mother Finau Osborne and sister are his support system.

“It has been challenging most times; given the medical conditions I am in,” Riccardo said.

“But when you see beyond what you achieve, it is God’s faithfulness that assists you to manage the situ­ation.

“I’m thankful to the Lord for giv­ing me my talents; although I did not perform as expected in the Cokes I know the Lord has some­thing bigger for me.

“I always trust the Bible verse Isaiah 60:22. Maybe next year, I’ll achieve what I want to achieve.”

Riccardo attended Marist Broth­ers High School in 2019. He ran in the sub junior and junior boys 800 and 400m before switching to 1500m.

“It was because of the clash of events, back then when straight after the 800 heats it was the 400 fi­nals,” he said.

“Due to my asthma and diabetes it was challenging, I had to make a switch.

“My asthmatic pump is always with me, I always ask the Lord that I don’t have an asthma attack when I’m running.

“When it does, I usually slow down, catch my breath and that’s about it.”

Riccardo said his asthma is trig­gered when he pushes himself.

“The struggle is balancing school­work with sports; in Grammar if you don’t get good marks you can’t participate in sports.

“Sometimes I have family prob­lems and it’s just hard to manage all of it but my mother and my sis­ter are my number one supporters.

“No matter what I do they are al­ways there, in everything I do, I al­ways to do it for them as I always think of them.”

The aspiring doctor hopes to rep­resent Fiji in the Pacific Games. in future.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj