FASANOC and Athletics Fiji express their heartfelt condolences to the Moceidreke family following the recent loss of the iconic Fiji Sprint champion and Olympian, Sitiveni Moceidreke.
Moceidreke and the late Mesulame Rakuro, who participated in the discus event, stood as the sole representatives for Fiji at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.
This marked only the second time that athletes from Fiji had competed in the Olympic Games. Mesulame had previously represented Fiji at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, with three other athletes representing three sports. Moceidreke became Fiji’s fifth Olympian.
Notably, Moceidreke made history as the first track athlete to represent Fiji and the entire Pacific Island nations in any Olympic Games. It wasn’t until 12 years later, during the 1972 Munich Olympics, that the next track athletes from Fiji competed on the Olympic stage.
Moceidreke, who participated in the men’s 100 and 200 metres events at the 1960 Summer Olympics, held the distinction of being Fiji’s oldest living Olympian until his recent passing.
Born on June 1, 1937, Moceidreke was 86 years old at the time of his demise. He is renowned for his recordbreaking and pioneering quality athletic performances.
1960 Rome Olympic Games
Moceidreke earned his spot to represent Fiji at the Rome Olympics by showcasing his prowess on the track. On June 4, 1960, he broke the legendary Josefa Levula’s 200m record of 22.5 seconds with an impressive run, clocking in at 22.0 seconds.
During the Rome Olympics, Moceidreke recorded a time of 10.8 seconds in the first round of the 100m, to progress to the quarter-final.
In this challenging quarter-final, which featured both the eventual gold and silver medallists, Moceidreke clocked an impressive 10.7 seconds.
In the 200m event, Moceidreke posted a commendable time of 21.8 seconds in the initial round, securing a respectable 4th place.
However, despite his strong performance, he narrowly missed advancing to the next round, as only the top two competitors progressed. Moceidreke was coached by Eric Harrison.
Bill Ragg was chef de mission and Les O Simpson was the team manager.
Moceidreke’s Olympic preparation
Two weeks before making his Olympic debut, Moceidreke demonstrated impressive speed by clocking 10.6 seconds in the 100m during a pre-meet in Sydney.
A few days later, Moceidreke further honed his performance, reducing his 100m time to an impressive 10.4 seconds during an event in Newcastle.
Despite being the slowest out of the blocks, Moceidreke’s remarkable finishing speed left Australian Athletics officials astonished.
The NSW State coach remarked on Moceidreke’s subpar start but compared his finishing burst with a “hurricane,” suggesting that a slightly faster start could position Moceidreke as a strong contender for an Olympic medal in Rome. During the Newcastle competition, the 200m event was cancelled.
Regrettably, Moceidreke, despite his initial reluctance, was persuaded to participate in the 400m instead.
Initially hesitant about competing in the 400m, Moceidreke entered the race and exerted himself, leading to the development of hamstring problems.
This setback impeded his final preparations for the Olympics in Rome and diminished the prospects of a medal-winning performance.
This potential for a medal in Rome is evidenced by Moceidreke’s impressive time of 10.4 seconds in Newcastle, a performance that holds favorable comparison with the times of 10.2 seconds recorded in the Rome Olympic finals by both Armin Harry of Germany, the eventual gold medal winner, and David Sime of the USA, who secured the silver medal.
Moceidreke’s remarkable time of 10.4 seconds not only remained unchallenged as the sole national Fiji record for an impressive 17 years, spanning from 1960 to 1977 but also stood jointly with two other athletes until February 1992.
This enduring national record, held by Moceidreke for a total of 32 years, underscores his status as an athlete of immense caliber, showcasing his prowess that was truly ahead of its time.
Moceidreke’s remarkable achievement of completing the 100-yard race in 9.9 seconds at the National Championships in Suva in April 1961 continues to hold a prominent place on the alltime ranking list. In total, six of his performances are still recognised on the list.
Post-Olympic Games career
After his return from the Olympics, Moceidreke played rugby on the wing for the Vuda Village club team, sharing the field with Dr Timoci Bavadra at the inside backline.
Fortunately, in response to the urging of athletics officials, he decided to halt his rugby pursuits to focus on advancing his running career.
He went on to represent Fiji at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, achieving times of 10.0 seconds and 10.2 seconds in the 100 yards, and 22.3 seconds and 23.2 seconds in the 220 yards.
However, despite his strong performances, he was eliminated after the second round in both events.
Sitiveni represented Fiji at the first-ever 1963 South Pacific Games in Suva and later at the 2nd South Pacific Games in 1966 in Noumea.
During the latter event, he clinched a bronze medal in the 200m, clocking in at a time of 22.8 seconds.
Testimonials
Fellow 1960 Olympian and former President of ONOC Kevan Gosper, in paying tribute said “I have a clear memory of meeting up with Moceidreke in Fiji when we were both young aspiring athletes. Our relationship extended into the lead-up to the Rome 1960 Olympic Games. Siti was a fine young athlete and had a very friendly and engaging manner. Fiji should be very proud of him”.
Dr Robin Mitchell, a life member of FASANOC and former teammate of Moceidreke in the 1963 Pacific Games Fiji team, expressed profound sadness upon learning of his passing.
Describing him as an extraordinary athlete, Dr Mitchell highlighted Moceidreke’s significant impact and influence on subsequent generations of sprinters.
Carl Probert, President of the Fiji Olympians Association said “Moceidreke, a pioneer in Fijian athletics and the nation’s first track Olympian, leaves behind a legacy of determination and inspiration.
He represented Fiji with pride in his journey to the global stage, marked by humble beginnings, which serves as a testament to his resilience and commitment to excellence in sports”.
Moceidreke, went to Vuniyasi District School and worked for Vacuum Oil Company and later as a senior refueller at the Nadi Internation Airport while representing Fiji.
Moceidreke, known for his strong family ties, originates from Veiseisei Village in Lautoka and holds the status of “vasu” in Yako Village, Nadi, which is his mother’s village.
He is survived by five children and thirteen grandchildren.
The funeral gathering starts on Thursday, with the burial to follow on the next day, Friday, at his village in Viseisei, Vuda. Rest in eternal peace, our respected Olympian.
