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| Matelita
BUADROMO |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
Fiji
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 15 Jan 1996
in Naroi, FIJ |
| Height | 1.71 m |
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General Interest |
Other sports |
She represented Fiji in open water swimming at the 2016 Oceania Championships in Suva, Fiji, and placed sixth in the 5km event. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Oct 2020) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning gold in the 200m freestyle at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. (fijisun.com.fj, 12 Jul 2019) |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Human Resources, Psychology - University of the South Pacific: Suva, FIJ |
General Interest |
Awards and honours |
She was named the 2010 Fijian Female Athlete of the Year by Fiji Swimming. (fijitimes.com, 01 Jul 2012; fina.org, 08 Dec 2010) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She first tried swimming at age five, and began competing when she was in grade two at Veiuto Primary School in Fiji. |
International Debut |
Year |
2006 |
Competing for |
Fiji |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Coach, Information Technology |
Languages |
English, Fijian |
General Interest |
Famous relatives |
Her sister Joelyn Buadromo represented Fiji in swimming at the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji. (foxsportpulse.com, 30 Apr 2016) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
Her mother encouraged her to take up the sport. "I learned to swim because my sister did it, but I didn't enjoy it at first. The first time I tried it I didn't like it at all and I made a deal with my mum that I could stop after I had learned how to swim." |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Ma (Instagram profile, 30 Nov 2017) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Never be afraid of anything. As long as you are doing what you love and have the will to work towards your dream, anything is possible." (foxsportpulse.com, 30 Apr 2016) |
Other information |
FAMILY TRAGEDY
Her father Akuila died suddenly in October 2015, two days before she had to leave for a six-week training camp in Brisbane, QLD, Australia. After struggling at the camp due to her loss, she considered quitting the sport. "Then I got to thinking about my coach and others who sacrificed time with their loved ones so I could get to Rio [for the 2016 Olympic Games]. My father was always about education first, so it surprised me when he allowed me to take a break from my studies. Thinking about the support from my family is what pushed me even harder to qualify for the Olympics. It was a very hard time in my life and ever since [speaking in 2019] I had been competing throughout and never had time to mourn properly, which has been affecting me for so long. I am actually grateful for the hardships I went through as it made me a stronger person." (Fiji Sun, 17 Aug 2019; fijisun.com, 13 Jun 2016)
OCCUPATION
She has worked as an information technology support officer for the Oceania National Olympic Committees [ONOC]. She has also coached young swimmers through Fiji Swimming, and has served as an executive member of the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee [FASANOC] athletes' commission. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Sep 2022; Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Organization Facebook page, 02 Sep 2021; ONOC Facebook page, 27 Mar 2021; insidethegames.biz, 05 Dec 2019; Fiji Sun, 17 Aug 2019)
SCHOLARSHIPS
She was one of three Fijian athletes who received scholarships from FASANOC in order to help them qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games. She was also one of 36 swimmers from across the world to receive an International Swimming Federation [FINA] Scholarship in 2017. The scholarship presented the option to train at FINA-approved training centres in Thailand, the United States of America, and Senegal. (swimswam.com, 12 Sep 2018; fijitimes.com, 11 Sep 2018; fina.org, 01 Mar 2017) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Suva, FIJ |
General Interest |
Injuries |
She suffered an injury in October 2020 that disrupted her attempt to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (fijitimes.com, 16 Oct 2020)
An injury sidelined her from the 2018 Oceania Championships in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (Fiji Sun, 10 Jun 2018) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
200m Freestyle |
2:05.49 |
| 43 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
100m Breaststroke |
1:16.33 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Heats |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
100m Freestyle |
57.93 |
| Heats |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
50m Freestyle |
27.00 |
| Heats |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
100m Butterfly |
1:04.94 |
| Heats |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
100m Freestyle |
58.53 |
| Heats |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
200m Freestyle |
2:09.07 |
| Heats |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
100m Freestyle |
58.53 |
| Heats |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
200m Individual Medley |
2:27.56 |
| Heats |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
200m Freestyle |
2:12.31 |
| Heat |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
200m Breaststroke |
2:44.01 |
| Heat |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
100m Breaststroke |
1:14.70 |
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Heats |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
100m Freestyle |
57.14 |
| Heats |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
100m Breaststroke |
1:12.57 |
| 35 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
100m Individual Medley |
1:05.35 |
| 48 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
50m Butterfly |
28.83 |
| 74 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
100m Freestyle |
58.21 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
200m Individual Medley |
2:23.80 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
50m Breaststroke |
34.50 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
100m Individual Medley |
1:06.75 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
200m Freestyle |
2:06.33 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
100m Freestyle |
57.96 |
Oceania Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 6 |
2016 |
Suva, FIJ |
5km |
1:12:30.60 |
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