Delana overcomes struggles to create history

The Fijian flag was flying high at the London Olympic Stadium yesterday with the happiest man on the planet at the time, Fiji paralympian Iliesa Delana, proudly running around the track.

The photo was priceless as Delana who only has one leg ran in Fijian colours with a crutch in one hand and the Fiji flag in the other.

He ran, he smiled, he acknowledged the 80,000 plus crowd in the stadium as he created history yesterday by winning Fiji’s first ever gold in the Paralympic Games.

This is also Fiji’s first ever medal in the games.

Delana won gold in the high jump F42 category for single leg amputees with a jump of 1.74 metres setting a new Oceania record in the process and becoming the first athlete ever in Fiji and the Pacific to win a gold medal in the Paralympic Games.

Delana beat athletes from India, Poland, China, Brazil, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Many messages have been coming through since the memorable win yesterday, however, it did not come easily.

Before Delana managed to get Digicel as a sponsor, he and his coach Fred Fatiaki went through many difficulties.

On many occasions, they had no bus fare to go and train at the National Stadium.

At times, they walked all the way from Nausori or they would walk up to Nabua and then catch a bus as the money they had could only take them from Nabua to the stadium or from Makoi to the stadium.

On many occasions, they also had to walk all the way to Nausori after the training session.

The struggle was huge - Delana walking all the way with his disabled coach, never complaining about lack of assistance.

Delana also had no place to stay when he moved to Suva and his coach Fred offered his home for Delana to stay.   

Delana said victory is sweeter when you look back and see the challenges that you have endured along the way.

Speaking from London, Delana said he did not let the challenges deter him from losing sight of his goal.