LADY FIRST !
Kaitinano Mwemweata (Athens quote: "A mattress is more comfortable than the boards I normally sleep on.") is our most experienced athlete in high-level international competitions. Born 22/07/84 on the outer island Butaritari, she has been to two World Athletics Championships (2001 and 2005), the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, two South Pacific Games (in 2003 and 2007), and was our first-ever Olympian in Athens in 2004. Recently, due to an asthma attack, she missed the opportunity (in Saipan) to win the Oceania Heptathlon. To stress her courage and determination, at the end of that week in June she "recovered" enough to compete in the 400m. Hurdles and gain a bronze medal in her first try at that event ! She holds the Kiribati National Records at 100m., 200m., 400m., 4 x 100m. (share), 4 x 400m. (share), 100m. Hurdles, Javelin, and Heptathlon. Seven of those records were set last year, proving that she is faster and stronger as she matures.
She has been a member of the National Olympic Committee since 2004 and was elected to the KAA Committee this year. She is an official representative (Youth Ambassador) of Kiribati overseas. She is also interested in Taekwondo and Volleyball ! She has shown her potential ability as a coach, having qualified recently at Level 3 in Sprints and Hurdles. Already she has passed on some of this training and expertise to other athletes.
...and now THE MAN !
Rabangaki Nawai has had his ups and downs in Athletics. One of the "downs" was in Italy in 2004 in the World Junior Athletics Championships. In a Schools competition just before leaving Kiribati, he damaged a hamstring. After treatment, he ran in Grosseto, finished the 100m., and did not come last ! This experience might have dimmed his interest in the sport, but more recent performances have again shown his ability and determination.
Born 06/09/85 on the outer island of Makin. Apart from the Italy experience, his other big-time event was his history-making participation in the 60m. in Valencia this year. This was our first-ever venture indoors. In more local competitions, in 2005 he won the Micronesia Octathlon in Saipan (winning 7 of the events and setting three National Records). Last year, he was selected to compete in the Micronesia individual events instead, this time in Guam. He returned with four gold (two in Relays) and two silver medals. Silver medals in the Oceania Octathlon in 2006 (Samoa) and Saipan (2008) prove that he is one of the best all-round athletes in this region.
He holds the Kiribati National Records at 60m., 100m., 200m., 4 x 100m. (share), 1000m., Javelin, and Octathlon.
He is an amusing companion and inspiring leader. He is much-respected and, with no formal coaching training, is able and willing to take coaching groups for drills and other training sessions. Currently he is training at the Marine Training Centre, preparing to be a seaman.
Last Modified on 09/08/2008 08:29