Solomon Islands Sharon Firisua will make history when she competes in the women's final marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics today, marking a first for a Pacific women to compete in the event.
Solomon Islands Sharon Firisua is set to make history as the first woman from the Pacific to compete in the 42.2km marathon at the Olympics. Photo: Pacific Games News Service
The 27-year-old won three gold medals at the 2015 Pacific Games where she competed in the five thousand and 10 thousands metre steeple, as well as the half marathon in Port Moresby.
She claimed her fourth gold in the 10 thousand metre event at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
The long-distance runner said she wants to set the benchmark for female athletes in the Pacific region.
"I was so happy when the Olympic Committee of the Games allowed me this chance to show to the Pacific that we can do it," she said.
"I was so proud [to be here competing], but I have to set the benchmark to show the Pacific Island women that if I can do it, they can do it, and someone coming in after me will be better than me."
Firisua finished 15th in her heat at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but it was her performance at the 2019 Pacific Games, where she claimed bronze in the half marathon event, coupled with some convincing from her Australian-based coaches, that assured her she was ready for the challenge of running 42.2kms.
"In Rio I was doing the five thousand metre, but now I'm doing the 42km marathon which is a big difference, it's a very big jump," she explained.
"I didn't think I was ready for the long distance but when I moved to the Gold Coast to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, I had a test using the VO2 Oxygen on the treadmill and the results were the same. I called my coach and told him 'I think you're right' and I just had to believe in myself and train for it."
While she's nervous to be competing against the world's best, Firisua said years of hard work was all for this moment.
Marathon runner Sharon Firisua (c) was chosen as Solomon Islands flag bearer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Supplied
"This is what I'm doing the training for all the past years and months and days and well I just have to go out there and enjoy it and do the best that I can do."
"Be strong, be brave, be fearless because you are never alone...I always remember that [verse] because people are supporting me back home and I have to do the best, and so when I'm running, I always say I'm not alone and I just keep going."
She said the goal now is to beat her personal best of three hours, eight minutes and 56 seconds.
"I'm hoping to run under the three hours, so in 2 hours 58 or 59 but I don't want to run over the three hours."
"So I'm targeting 2.55 at the moment, but we'll see if the weather is kind enough for us as well."
The marathon event gets underway at 7:00am with Firisua being the last Pacific athlete to compete at this years Olympic Games.