TEAM Fiji athlete Serenia Ragatu finished fifth in her first race at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Despite being ranked the best female athlete in the 400metres event in Fiji, Serenia still feels that she has a long way to go her sporting career.
The 17-year-old has so far competed only in the national level competitions as well as the recent Melanesian Games and is now anticipated to compete in the next 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Speaking after her first event at the games, Ragatu said: “For me personally it is an eye opening experience to be able to compete in an Olympic Games as such.
“To be honest at first I wasn’t really sure if I could make the qualification time to be able to compete in these games but later on as the days went by my coach had encouraged me to keep working hard so I finally got selected into the Games.
“It’s like a dream come true, I never thought I would be in an international platform like this to compete amongst so many young, talented and best athletes in the world.”
Ragatu also added that at some point in time she doubted her inability to meet the level of expectation.
“A lot of times felt like I am not really good as the others in the particular sport that I am competing in and keep doubting my ability to be able to meet up the level of expectation.
“But I am glad that to have made it to the Youth Olympic Games and at the same time being the only athlete competing in this sport which feels like an achievement for me already.
“After this competition I am hoping to represent Fiji in the next 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo if I am lucky enough.”
Ragatu said being a part of Team Fiji has given her a new sense of confidence that she hopes to carry on into her academic life as well.
