THE disappointment of not winning any medals in her events last year motivated Angeline Joan Furivai to do better this year.
As a result, the 14-year-old won nine medals in the Short Course National Swimming Competition in Nadi earlier this month.
This feat saw her win the Most Improved Swimmer Awards during the Race Club Fiji awards night on Saturday in Suva.
The tally included two gold medals and a silver in the relay events and three silver and three bronze in her individual events.
"I didn't win any medals in any of my individual events last year and it was very disappointing," the St Joseph's Secondary School student said.
"This year I put more effort in my training and with the support of my mother, Betty Furivai, my grandmother Aliti Furivai, my coaches Mr Takayawa and Mrs Naivalu, I was able to improve," she said.
"Also it was through divine intervention as I was praying every day for strength."
The Form 3C student said she would continue to improve her performance to gold in her events.
"I won three silver and three bronze medals in individual events this year and I would like to improve that to gold next year," she said.
"So until I do I will not stop trying and also in the process I would like to become a national champion one day," Furivai said.