Schools and shops closed as more than 4,000 people gathered to watch the game in the capital's main stadium. Fiji rugby captain Jerry Tuwai: How poverty helped drive my career. That is something that keeps me going. They told me that this was my life now, and will put food on the table for us. Jerry Tuwai arguably has the fastest feet in rugby sevens. I’ll never forget what he told me that day, about never giving up. Later, he would declare that he really regretted dropping out of school. Week 357 (15 - 21 August 2020), Week 324 (28 December 2019 - 3 January 2020), Week 272 (29 December 2018 - 4 January 2019), Aanchal Thakur
Sometimes I got injured and two or three nails would come off because of the gravel. In 2018 he was rewarded with the captaincy of the team, before being named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2019. Where are Olympic heroes now and how are they inspiring future generations? Part science, part trivia, this show uses advanced analytics to answer all those questions that you always had, but were afraid to ask! It wasn’t long before he was able to use them in helping his sisters finish their education. Week 222 (13 - 19 January 2018), Week 168 (31 December 2016 - 6 January 2017), T: +44 (0) 1892 860860F: +44 (0) 1892 862293E: info@jta.sport Our latest tweets. For a week I don’t think he uttered a word to anyone. Olympic State of Mind is a short video series that guide viewers through each stage of an athlete’s mental journey, providing tangible tips and centres viewers around the three key pillars of Olympic State of Mind - Motivation, Mindfulness and Visualisation. Jerry Tuwai is just the second Fijian to be named World Sevens Player of the Year. The decision to invest in rugby boots for their son proved an astute one from Tuwai’s parents. “At the first training session we were running four 400s (metres). Because I'm small, growing up I was always the last one picked,” he continued to Olympic Channel. He was also Player of the Final at the 2015 Dubai Sevens. Making the most out of the natural surroundings, the players were made to run up and down the heavy sand in scorching heat. Tuwai hopes his tale can be inspiring for other young Fijian children. 2:00pm, 15 March 2020. These legends made history, but their legacy lives on. 2020 - All rights reserved, Tuwai's hat-trick of tries for champions Fiji, Jerry Tuwai: bringing hope from the slum to the nation, Rugby sevens team takes first ever gold for Fiji, Podcast: Ben Ryan – the coach behind Fiji’s rugby 7s Olympic gold, Ben Ryan: Fiji rugby stars like Rupeni Caucaunibuca 'misunderstood', Carlin Isles exclusive: From troubled times to Tokyo 2020. Meet the inspiring athletes who are redefining what it means to have the perfect body. So I came back home, gave all that money to my mum and dad who told me to take some money, but I said, ‘no, this is for the family and my two sisters’. “I think all the responsibility of being captain, winning a lot of awards and all this stuff pushed us to be a better rugby player, and stronger person. Tuwai’s father and mother scrimped and saved enough money to buy their son his first pair of rugby boots.