| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Usaia Naiteitei Sotutu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1947-09-20)20 September 1947 (age 77) Tavea,Bua, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 63 kg (139 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 5000 metres 10,000 metres 3000 metres steeplechase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University team | Brigham Young University Cougars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Team Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Clarence Robison[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personalbest(s) | 5000m – 15:11.8 (1969) 10000m – 31:32.0 (1971) 3000m Steepl – 8:48.0 (1971) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| Updated on 26 April 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Usaia Naiteitei Sotutu (born 20 September 1947 inTavea,Bua,Fiji) is a former runner who representedFiji at the 1972 Summer Olympics.[2]
Usaia was born in 1947 to Tevita Naiteitei and Akisi Buasega inFiji. He represented Fiji in several international track and field competitions, including theSouth Pacific Games and theSummer Olympics. Shortly after participating in the Olympics, he attendedBrigham Young University inProvo, Utah, on a full scholarship for track andcross-country. While attending BYU, he converted tothe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3] In 1973, he took a break from his college and track career to serve a two-year mission for the Church back in Fiji. He went on to marry Catherine Marie Olson in 1975, who was also studying at BYU. Upon finishing his education in Provo, he, Cathie, and their first son, David, moved back to Fiji, and they lived there for the next three years. During that time he taught physical education, and had two more children with Cathie: Juliette and Charles. The Family then moved toKent, Washington in 1980. There, he went to work forBoeing, and they had two more daughters, Jennifer and Diana. He and Cathie were divorced in 2004, but he still lives in theSeattle, Washington area and still works for Boeing.
Usaia was a noted runner in Fiji and was selected to represent Fiji in the South Pacific Games (nowPacific Games) numerous times. In 1972, he was chosen to represent Fiji in theSummer Olympics. He did not win any medals.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Fiji | |||||
| 1966 | South Pacific Games | Nouméa,New Caledonia | 3rd | 10,000 m | 33:24.7 min |
| 1st | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:59.2 min | |||
| 1969 | South Pacific Games | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | 3rd | 5000 m | 16:05.0 min |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 33:13.2 min | |||
| 1st | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:48.8 min | |||
| 1971 | South Pacific Games | Pirae,French Polynesia | 1st | 5000 m | 15:15.4 min |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 32:14.6 min | |||
| 1st | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:24.0 min | |||
| 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:18.5 min | |||
| 1975 | South Pacific Games | Tumon,Guam | 1st | 1500 m | 4:04.41 min |
| 3rd | 10,000 m | 32:58.94 min | |||
| 2nd | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:51.4 min | |||
| 1979 | South Pacific Games | Suva, Fiji | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:59.97 min |
| 2nd | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:28.06 min | |||
It is not known when he retired, but he was ushered into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
