Fiji’s golden boy Iliesa Delana is on top of the world today as he was accorded a 50 man guard of honor, drank the first bilo of yaqona in the traditional ceremony before President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and thousands of citizens took out time to celebrate his historic win today.
Many times, he had tears in his eyes and said that he was overwhelmed by the activities starting from yesterday afternoon when he arrived in Fiji.
In front of more than 4,000 people at the Vodafone Arena, Delana, his coach Fred Fatiaki, President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and the first lady Adi Koila Nailatikau sat on the main dias.
Speaking first, Delana said his gold medal win is dedicated to all the citizens of Fiji.
President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said Delana’s victory has become his family’s, Fiji’s and the Pacific’s victory and he has made everyone extremely proud.
The President added that if he had his own way, he would have made Delana’s aunt sit with Delana while he and his wife would have sat down.
Delana’s aunt Lice Bulusui had declined to sit on the dias based on traditional grounds.
She raised Delana after his mother passed away in 1997 when he was in Class 7.
Bulusui said she sacrificed a lot to look after Fiji’s golden boy who lost his leg after a bus accident when he was three years old.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama also congratulated Delana and stressed that his win in London has united all Fijians again.
We look back at our hero Delana’s struggles.
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.
Iliesa Delana has today received $10,000 from the government, the Housing Authority will provide him with a new home in Tacirua while the ATH Foundation and HFC will give him $5,000 each.
His coach Fred Fatiaki will also receive $10,000 from the government.
Delana has already said that he wants to try out the track events and needs a bionic leg.
His sponsor Digicel confirmed that they will speak to him about his future after the celebrations.
Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people cheered through Victoria Parade to show their appreciation and congratulate Iliesa Delana for winning gold at the Paralympic Games as the march took place from the Suva Flea Market to Albert Park.
Students, men and women holding Fiji flags braved the drizzle as some also passed the Police guards and tried to touch and kiss Delana after his historic win.
Some were in tears, ran behind Delana and tried to get a glimpse of Delana and the gold medal that he has brought from the London games.
Many students said Delana is such an inspiration for them and they said that he has proved to them that nothing is impossible.
Delana won Fiji’s first ever gold and medal in the high jump F42 category for single leg amputees in the Paralympic Games with a jump of 1.74 metres setting a new Oceania record in the process in front of more than 80,000 people in London.
Story by: Vijay Narayan, Dhanjay Deo & Akuila Cama
