Big Moment For Della
Della Shaw-Elder has been invited by the International Weightlifting Federation to officiate at the Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, when the competition starts today.
Two weeks ago Della was a referee and jury at the Commonwealth and Oceania Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.
Della is the only female IWF category one referee from the Pacific. She achieved this status in 2014 and has been refereeing at several regional and international competitions.
Having originally started her sporting career as a track sprinter, she was “loaned” to the weightlifting team for the 1995 South Pacific Games, in Tahiti where she won a gold medal and again in 1996 at the Oceania championships.
She has not looked back since then and has been a strong performer in weightlifting, both on and off the platform.
Della went on to win a gold medal at the 1997 Pacific Mini Games in American Samoa, silver at the 1998 Oceania Championship in Nauru and another gold at the 2003 Pacific Games in Suva.
Della is also a competent weightlifting coach. She was a coach to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where her sister Ivy Shaw was competing. She has coached the national weightlifting team to several internationals including the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where Apolonia Vaivai won the country’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal and Fiji’s only medal at the 2015 Commonwealth Games.
Weightlifting Fiji president Atma Maharaj said that “we are very fortunate to have the dedication and commitment of someone of the calibre of Della, who not only contributes as vice- president to Weightlifting Fiji but is out there early in the mornings and late into the evenings helping prepare our next crop of champions”
Della’s life revolves around weightlifting. Her husband, Henry Elder Jnr, is Weightlifting Fiji’s strength and conditioning coach and is currently in USA on a scholarship thanks to the US Olympic Committee and FASANOC.
Her eldest son, Timothy Vakuruivalu is currently in Turkmenistan with Team Fiji and will compete on September 22, in the 85kg category.
Her youngest son, 12-year-old Daniel Shaw is in the gym working on his technique and on route to become a weightlifter himself.
Della works at the Fiji Sports Council as facilities supervisor. She is thankful to her employers
for their continued support that helps her contribute towards weightlifting’s successes.
Della is also thankful to Weightlifting Fiji, Oceania Weightlifting Federation, Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation and IWF for giving her the opportunity to coach, officiate and referee at international level.
Della’s goal is to officiate at the World Championships and the 2020 Olympic Games.