| Fiji at the 2016 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | FIJ |
| NOC | Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| in Rio de Janeiro | |
| Competitors | 54 in 10 sports |
| Flag bearer | Osea Kolinisau[1] |
| Medals Ranked 54th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Fiji competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Since the nation's debut in 1956, Fijian athletes had taken part in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, except for two occasions. Fiji failed to register any athletes at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and joined the American-led boycott when Moscow hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games, due to the attendance of the men's football and rugby sevens teams. A total of 54 athletes, 37 men and 17 women, and 35 officials were registered to the Fijian squad across ten different sports.[2] There was only a single competitor in archery, boxing, judo, shooting, and table tennis, the country's sporting debut apart from the rugby sevens.
The Fijian team featured a number of returning Olympians, including archer Rob Elder, javelin thrower Leslie Copeland, swimmer Matelita Buadromo (women's 200 m freestyle), weightlifter Manueli Tulo (men's 56 kg), and judoka Josateki Naulu (men's 81 kg). 53-year-old trap shooter Glenn Kable, who had competed in every edition since 2004, was the oldest and most experienced member of the team, with 17-year-old table tennis player Sally Yee rounding out the field as the youngest member.[3] Rugby sevens team captain Osea Kolinisau was selected as Fiji's flag bearer for the opening ceremony.[1]
Fiji earned its first ever Olympic medal at these Games, with a gold from the men's rugby sevens team (led by Kolinisau).[4]
- ^ a b Malo, Maciu (21 July 2016). "Fiji's flag bearer". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Nasokia, Waisea (30 July 2016). "54 Athletes, 32 Officials For Rio Olympics". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Finger on the trigger". Fiji Times. 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ Ewart, Richard (22 August 2016). "Rio 2016: Fiji rugby sevens team returns home to national celebrations after winning first Olympic gold". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 14 September 2016.