'Goosebumps': Fiji's heartwarming Olympic harmony leaves fans in tears
The tiny island nation of Fiji won their second ever gold medal at the Olympics yesterday and their beautiful post-match celebration has once again left fans in tears.
Fiji won their second consecutive gold medal in rugby sevens after defeating New Zealand in the gold medal decider.
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Just like at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Fijians were overwhelmed with emotion after the final whistle as players fell to their knees in joy.
The win could be even more important for the team this year with the nation battling a severe Covid-19 outbreak back at home, with more than 25,000 cases and 200 deaths among a population of just over 900,000.
With its health system under strain, officials have imposed a 6pm to 4am curfew in an attempt to curb the rapid spread of the virus.
The team's gold medal performance provoked a spontaneous outpouring of joy in the nation's cities and villages.
Fireworks flashed in the night sky and daring revellers in the capital Suva flew flags from car windows as they circled among cheering crowds.
And following the match, the Fijian team joined in a circle and sung together in beautiful harmony.
Fans emotional watching Fiji sevens gold at Olympics
The Fijians also joined together in song on the podium called 'E Da Sa Qaqa' - 'We Have Overcome' - in a magical Olympics moment.
Fans around the world watched on in tears as the emotions overflowed.
The victorious Fiji rugby 7s team singing in beautiful harmony! Goosebumps #tokyo2020 https://t.co/fte14jumWt
— Cameron Pegg (@ghostwhowrites) July 29, 2021
Bula @fijirugby. Love to see it 🌴🌴 pic.twitter.com/eu1T6agHJV
— Nik Simon (@Nik_Simon88) July 28, 2021
Vinaka, boys –– that win was worth more than Gold.
Your love for this game, for each other, and for your country has shown again that when Fijians unite, we can achieve greatness –– no matter what the world throws our way.
GO FIJI GO!!!! 🇫🇯🇫🇯🇫🇯🇫🇯🇫🇯🇫🇯 pic.twitter.com/2USx1iGq6b— Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) July 28, 2021
ITS COMING HOME!!! 🥇😭🇫🇯 Fiji’s second gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so so proud!!! pic.twitter.com/ytHejgOqVp
— V (@fjgoldylocks) July 28, 2021
It always amazes me how much Fiji achieve as a rugby nation.
Essentially the same population size as Newcastle.
Yet dominate sevens and pack a mighty smack at 15s.
Gold, yet again 👍👍👍👍— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) July 28, 2021
My heart is full tonight. So proud of my adopted homeland. #Fiji #Rugby7s #Olympics pic.twitter.com/2ekvP8lbrm
— Lasse Melgaard (@lmelgaard) July 28, 2021
POWERFUL.
The Fiji rugby sevens team break into a stirring rendition of 'E Da Sa Qaqa' (We Have Overcome) after winning gold in Tokyo.#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/Y1zUeaVPlE— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 28, 2021
Fiji's population is the size of San Francisco, yet recently the country recorded 1,285 daily COVID cases.
The song the Fiji Olympic rugby team sang after winning gold is called "E Da Sa Qaqa."
"We Have Overcome."
We must fight for #VaccineEquity with everything we've got. pic.twitter.com/CSR683kntH— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) July 29, 2021
I am filled with joy for a country I am proud to call home right now. Never before have I shed a tear on hearing another nation’s anthem. God Bless Fiji 🇫🇯 🏅 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/QnEtoTHiOL
— PaulWelsh (@PaulWelsh_UK) July 28, 2021
Superb. Would love Fiji to win every men’s Olympic sevens forever more. And they might well.
— Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) July 28, 2021
Congratulations Fiji. Winning #Back2Back Rugby men Olympic gold medals 🥇 #TosoVitiToso 🇫🇯 https://t.co/sWG0t5BuRV
— cσαcн ιsαмυ тιкι ғαℓεvαι (@Laie_Boy) July 29, 2021
My heart is full tonight. So proud of my adopted homeland. #Fiji #Rugby7s #Olympics pic.twitter.com/2ekvP8lbrm
— Lasse Melgaard (@lmelgaard) July 28, 2021
Omg.. crying happy tears.. Fiji's rugby gold is the best 🥇
— Meagan (@bowenvale321) July 29, 2021
Awesome!
Emotional scenes for Fijians as their team sings ‘Na drake qo, Jiova ga’ to celebrate their back-to-back gold medals.
Translation: ‘In this stormy weather we are facing, God is our refuge,’ & is a fitting celebration song considering Fiji's Covid19 emergency.
1/7 pic.twitter.com/SXABaCrmyR— Patrick_Skene (@Patrick_Skene) July 29, 2021
The win is worth more than a gold to Fijians everywhere," Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama told Radio New Zealand.
"Fijians love this game.
"It has always united us. (It) shows that we can achieve greatness no matter what the world may throw our way, even with COVID."
Bainimarama noted that Fiji's gold medal success had led to widespread breaches of the curfew but said "no-one seems to mind."
"Everyone is happy in Fiji to watch the boys win the gold," he said.
When England-born coach Ben Ryan guided Fiji to their first gold medal in Rio, he was rewarded with a chiefly title and a grant of land. Fiji's current coach, Wales-born Gareth Baber, is likely to be similarly rewarded when the team returns to Fiji, probably on Saturday if flights are available.
with AAP
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