AT the tender age of 16, Isaiah Elder is a star in the making.
Isaiah, the son of former Fiji Rugby Union fitness trainer Henry Elder, won a gold medal and set two new records in the sub-junior category during the Oceania Powerlifting Championship in Sydney, Australia last week.
Fiji team coach Iliesa Irava said Isaiah had two more years in the sub-junior category before he would qualify for the junior category.
"Isaiah is only 16 years old and he has big potential because he has two more years in the sub-junior category," Irava said.
"For him, this was his first international competition. To win a gold medal and break two records is a big achievement."
The Marist Brothers' High School student set a new record in the squat with 222.5kg beating the old record of 217.5kg.
He set a new record in the dead lift with 237.5kg. The old record stood at 235kg.
Isaiah said nervousness crept in when he stood up at the platform.
"This was my first international competition and I won a gold medal," Isaiah said.
"It feels great. I did not expect the two records but it I achieved it. It made me happier.
"I was confident of winning a medal but nerves crept in when I stood on the platform.
"However I managed to fight and things went well. I hope to carry on training hard and win more medals for Fiji."