The photo was priceless as Delana who only has one leg ran in Fijian colours with only one crutch.
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.
Two other athletes cleared the bar at 1.74 metres but Delana was declared the winner after clearing the bar on his first attempt.
Delana beat athletes from India, Poland, China, Brazil, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Delana said victory is sweeter when you look back and see the challenges that you have endured along the way.
Delana recalled those rainy days when he used to train at the National Stadium with his coach Fred Fatiaki.
They had no financial assistance.
The 27-year-old Fiji Sportsman of the Year remembers times when he walked with his coach to the National Stadium because they were short of bus fare.
Speaking from London, Delana said he did not let the challenges deter him from losing sight of his goal.
Delana’s coach Fred Fatiaki said he also recalled those struggling days they went through.
Fatiaki added Delana’s achievement should be a learning curve for people with disabilities because nothing is impossible.
President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said Delana has shown to all of us here and to the world what is humanly possible if one is to set his or her mind towards a certain goal.
He added sport in Fiji has always been known to bring people together irrespective of race, color or creed, and he has no doubt that the entire nation will be united in celebrating this outstanding and historic achievement.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is calling on all Fijians to join him in congratulating Delana.
Commodore Bainimarama added that Delana’s win should be celebrated by all Fijians.
Delana and Team Fiji are expected back in the country next week.
With Delana’s success, Digicel Fiji is offering all their prepaid customers free internet on their phones.
Since 2010, Delana has been a Digicel Fiji brand ambassador and a member of its customer care team.
Story by: Vijay Narayan, Akuila Cama & Dhanjay Deo
