As the Pacific Games 2023 commences tomorrow, team Fiji Sailing reps Nelle Leenders and Sophia Morgan are more motivated than ever to get out at sea and compete against the best in the Pacific.
18-year-old Leenders says coming into this year’s event, she has set her goal to win 2 more medals after she won 2 silver medals and a bronze medal at her first Pacific Games competition back in 2019 which was held in Samoa.
Leenders shared her story of how she started to love sailing at a very young age as she was prompted to take up the sport after seeing her older sister out on the waters sailing.
She says this motivated her and she has never looked back ever since she took up the sport 10 years ago.
She adds it takes a lot to understand the tide, the current and the wind and also how to control the boat and move around with it, but after a while, it comes as second nature to do all these things.
20-year-old Morgan says she was inspired to represent Fiji because of her friends and family and also her grandmother.
Born and raised in Lami, Morgan says growing up, she did not enjoy sailing as much as she does now and she’s honoured to be representing Fiji.
She says after finishing 5th in her first Pacific Games in 2019, she is now motivated to win medals for Fiji this year.
The sailing competition will begin next Monday.
The Pacific Games will kick off tomorrow with the official opening to be held this Sunday.
