Buadromo wins gold for Fiji

By Ivamere Nataro 11 July 2019, 10:48PM

Matelita Buadromo has ended her desire and thirst for a gold medal in the Pacific Games at the Aquatic Center in Faleata last night. 

The 23-year-old took out the first place in the women’s 200 meters freestyle and was part of the women’s relay team that also won gold in the 4x100 meters relay.

“This is my first two gold medals in the Pacific Games. I started off with bronze, and then silver in the Pacific Games last year,” she said to the Samoa Observer.

“And within four years of crazy training, ups and downs, and so much emotions going on as well because am also getting old as well and recovery was getting slow and we really wanted the gold, then I finally got it. 

“A lot of it was trial and error, and coming into this Games I didn’t want bronze and silver again.”

So far, she has bagged four medals - two gold, one silver in the indoor swimming - and bronze in the Open Swimming earlier this week.

 Asked what draws to swimming, she said “it feels really good”. 

“My sister started it off I didn’t really like it first because I didn’t know how to swim but my mum said it was really important for us to learn and that was all it was supposed to be, but my sister, Joeline Buadromo, made the Pacific Games when she was 12 in 2003 in Fiji, and she’s the reason I started and now I can’t seem to stop. 

“Apart from it feeling so good, I make so many friends, I don’t think I would have travelled if it wasn’t for the swimming. I learnt when I was four years old and I took it seriously I think when I was about seven years old.”

Matelita said it’s always such a good feeling and an honour to represent her country.

She also commended the crowd and their support for all the athletes. 

“I have been to a lot of Games but the Pacific Games is one of my favourites because of the island feeling, especially in swimming it’s a sport where everyone cheers on everybody. 

“I really felt at home tonight the women’s basketball team was here to cheer us on so I think that gave the hype to the relay team.”

Swimming was only a “thing” for Matelita and her sister, but has now evolved into a family affair.  

“It’s was just me and my sister, but now it has become a part of my family, my cousin who swam 5k with me at the Open Swimming competition was just 15 years old, and he came fifth and I just introduced the sport to him last year.”

On her relay team, Matelita said she is proud of all the girls.  

“We were the underdogs in the relay. New Caledonia has always taken it. It’s a young team too with Rosemarie being our youngest. 

“The team really held the relay well for me to anchor because I was up against New Caledonia and Samoa, and they were they top seeds in the 100 freestyle, so it’s very scary, I think it was just how well they swam it helped me bring it back up.”

Matelita thanked her team, especially her Dolphin Club, and dedicated her win to her coach, who has been through a lot with her in the 200 meters freestyle, family, team and Fiji. 

Her goal is to continue getting gold in the upcoming events.


By Ivamere Nataro 11 July 2019, 10:48PM

Trending Stories

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>