New Caledonia’s Vandegou collects her second Sol2023 gold in javelin ambulant

Rose Vandegou of New Caledonia will continue her reign as the women’s javelin ambulant champion of the Pacific after securing gold with a spring in her step at Sol2023 on Wednesday, one day after being crowned the women’s 100m ambulant Pacific sprint queen on Tuesday.

Vandegou claimed this win comfortably at Honiara’s National Stadium with a placing percentage difference of more than 20 per cent between her gold medal and the silver and bronze medallists. Her final throw distance of 25.45 metres secured her final placing percentage of 88.67 against her F41 classification for gold.

In the ambulant category, Para athletes’ results are measured against their classification to determine their final placing percentage. A higher percentage closer to 100 indicates a better ranking and the highest ranked competitor at the end of the event is the winner.

Speaking to the Pacific Games News Service, the two-time gold medallist said: “I’m delighted to have won another medal. I’m very satisfied.

“I think today’s competition went really well because I’m motivated, I’m focused, and I concentrated on what I was doing. I was at my best and I was confident in myself,” she said.

The gold medallist made a special dedication of her medal to New Caledonia, her island Lifou, her coach, the people in her support group, and her supporters.

Fiji’s Selina Sanday Seau who classes as F46, had been trying to qualify for the Pacific Games for six years and on Wednesday made the podium as the silver medalist for the women’s javelin ambulant even after a tough start to her throws.

Some fouls and dissatisfying throws in her six attempts were not enough to dampen Seau’s spirits as her final throw distance of 18.08m was enough to secure her a placing percentage of 67.94, the second highest of the afternoon and silver medal-worthy.

Seau said: “This is my first Pacific Games after six years of trying and I didn’t expect to win silver, so I am really happy.”

Naibili Vatunisolo, also from Fiji, was the bronze medallist and just missed out on the silver by a one per cent margin after finishing with a placing percentage of 66.55 with a final throw distance of 20.97m in her classification of F42.

She told the Pacific Games News Service that she was happy to make the podium.

“I’m very happy with my throws for tonight and I was trying to just do my personal best but I’m so happy that I am the bronze medallist too.

“I just want to thank my family for their support and to the rest of the team and the rest of the sporting bodies that are still competing, I wish them all the best.”

Solomon Islands’ Jeminah Otoa, who won silver in this event in 2019, did not manage to reach the podium this time, finishing fifth overall.

By Melissa Velvel Fare, Helen Palmer and Jenabeth Sara, Pacific Games News Service