Fiji's Rusiate Matai targets Commonwealth Games comeback after injury

Fiji's national indoor high jump record holder, Rusiate Matai, is preparing for a significant return to the international stage at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The athlete has been sidelined for nine months following a severe fibula injury sustained last year, which halted his promising momentum.

Matai recently participated in a training session at the HFC Bank Stadium with his Team Fiji Athletics teammates. This session marked one of his final preparations in Fiji before departing for Australia, where he will continue his rigorous training regimen to fine-tune his performance for the Games.

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This is my comeback story, and I’m ready to represent Fiji on the biggest stage.

Describing his comeback as a "personal milestone," Matai acknowledged the challenging yet rewarding journey back to full fitness. He expressed his readiness to represent Fiji on the "biggest stage" and test his abilities against elite global competitors. Matai is currently pursuing his studies in Kansas, USA, on a scholarship at Neosho County Community College, balancing his academic commitments with his athletic aspirations.

This will be Matai's first appearance at the Commonwealth Games, an opportunity he has long worked towards. With renewed determination and focus, he hopes his resilience will translate into a strong performance as he proudly dons the Fiji colors in Glasgow.

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I’m excited for my first Commonwealth Games. It’s a chance to test myself against some of the best athletes in the world.