Saimoni Tamani

Saimoni Tamani
Personal information
Nationality Fiji
Born (1944-11-14) November 14, 1944 (age 79)
Bua, Fiji
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)400 metres (qualified, injured)
University teamBrigham Young University Cougars
TeamTeam Fiji
Coached byClarence Robison[1]
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Fiji
(South) Pacific Games
Gold medal – first place 1966 Nouméa 4x400 m relay
Gold medal – first place 1969 Port Moresby 400 m
Gold medal – first place 1969 Port Moresby 800 m
Gold medal – first place 1969 Port Moresby 4x400 m relay
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 1970 Edinburgh 400 m
Olympic Games
Updated on 22 September 2023.

Saimoni Tamani (born 14 November 1944) is a Fijian former athlete who specialized in running the 400 metres (400-meter dash).

College years

Tamani was a track star at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.[2]

Running/Sprinting career

Tamani won a gold medal in the 1966 South Pacific Games in Noumea. He won three gold medals at the 1969 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby. At the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Tamani won the bronze medal in the 400 metres with a time of 45.82 seconds.[3] It was Fiji's first medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games since 1950. He was slated to compete at the 1972 Summer Olympics[4] in Munich, West Germany, but suffered a foot injury during the NCAA indoor track season.[5]

Post running career

In 1973 he moved to the United States, where he worked at a paper mill in Longview, Washington, retiring after 30 years.[6][7]

He was inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.[8][9]

Personal life

Tamani is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[10]

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Fiji
1966 South Pacific Games Nouméa, New Caledonia 1st 4x400 m relay 3:24.08 min
1969 South Pacific Games Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 1st 400 m 48.8 s
1st 800 m 1:57.3 min
1st 4x400 m relay 3:19.6 min
1970 1970 Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland 3rd 400 m 45.82 s

References

  1. ^ Harmon, Dick (19 Apr 2004). "Robison went the distance". www.deseret.com. Retrieved 22 Sep 2023.
  2. ^ BYU men's track records list
  3. ^ "Tamani tears up the tracks". Fiji Times. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2023 – via PressReader.
  4. ^ Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News. 1998. p. 555. ISBN 1573454915.
  5. ^ Fiji Olympics Committee article on Tamani
  6. ^ "Olympic students get a glimpse of Fiji". Fiji Sun. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  7. ^ Deseret News (17 Jan 1992). "HALL OF FAMER". www.deseret.com. Suva, Fiji. Retrieved 22 Sep 2023.
  8. ^ "Sports Hall of Fame". Fiji Times. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  9. ^ "1991 Saimoni Tamani – Athletics". Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  10. ^ Church News Archives (17 Jan 1992). "Hall of famer". www.thechurchnews.com. Suva, Fiji. Retrieved 22 Sep 2023.

External links