Usaia Sotutu

Usaia Sotutu

Personal information
Full name	Usaia Naiteitei Sotutu
Nationality	Fiji
Born	(1947-09-20) 20 September 1947 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
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	5000m – 15:11.8 (1969) 10000m – 31:32.0 (1971) 3000m Steepl – 8:48.0 (1971)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing Fiji Olympic Games (South) Pacific Games Gold medal – first place 1975 Tumon 1500 m Gold medal – first place 1971 Pirae 5000 m Gold medal – first place 1971 Pirae 10,000 m Gold medal – first place 1971 Pirae 3000 m steeplechase Gold medal – first place 1971 Pirae 4x400 m relay Gold medal – first place 1969 Port Moresby 10,000 m Gold medal – first place 1969 Port Moresby 3000 m steeplechase Gold medal – first place 1966 Nouméa 3000 m steeplechase Silver medal – second place 1979 Suva 1500 m Silver medal – second place 1979 Suva 3000 m steeplechase Silver medal – second place 1975 Tumon 3000 m steeplechase Silver medal – second place 1966 Nouméa 10,000 m Bronze medal – third place 1975 Tumon 10,000 m Bronze medal – third place 1969 Port Moresby 5000 m
Updated on 26 April 2013

Usaia Naiteitei Sotutu (born 20 September 1947 in Tavea, Bua, Fiji) is a former runner who represented Fiji at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Usaia was born in 1947 to Tevita Naiteitei and Akisi Buasega in Fiji. He represented Fiji in several international track and field competitions, including the South Pacific Games and the Summer Olympics. Shortly after participating in the Olympics, he attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, on a full scholarship for track and cross-country. While attending BYU, he converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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 to Kent, Washington in 1980. There, he went to work for Boeing, and they had two more daughters, Jennifer and Diana. He and Cathie were divorced in 2004, but he still lives in the Seattle, Washington area and still works for Boeing.

Running/athletics career

Usaia was a noted runner in Fiji and was selected to represent Fiji in the South Pacific Games (now Pacific Games) numerous times. In 1972, he was chosen to represent Fiji in the Summer Olympics. He did not win any medals.

Achievements

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

After Retirement

It is not known when he retired, but he was ushered into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

Internal References

• Fiji at the 1972 Summer Olympics

External links

• This article has no link in Wikidata
• Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee#Fiji Sports Hall of Fame