Erasito understands the demands of an athlete

THE challenge of ensuring that athletes are at their 100 per cent physically on a daily basis is something that pushes Fijian 7s physiotherapist Apao Erasito daily.

The Rotuma-born lad is currently the head physiotherapist for the Fijiana Women’s 7s team.

“Helping out in a high-intensity sport is challenging, but one I enjoy because it keeps me on my toes,” he said.

“Being a former athlete myself, I understand what these young athletes go through when they are training.”

The youngest of three siblings, Erasito said professional athletes like the Fijiana rugby players tend to push themselves to the limit and beyond.

“Ensuring that they can handle what the coaching staff require of them, I try my best to make sure that their bodies are able to withstand the intense training,” he said.

“I have to be watchful too as some athletes try and hide injuries and it is my job to ensure that every athlete is 100 per cent so that the team can function well under the guidance of the head coach.”

Erasito said he had worked with athletes from other sports including swimming and basketball and this had helped him understand how to spot injuries and how to deal with them.

“If athletes had injuries, we try our best to deal with them as soon as possible.

“We are lucky to have a coaching panel that adheres to advice but also everyone works together as a team to ensure that athletes are at 100 per cent before entering the field to play or train,” he said.

Erasito is a former Fiji athletics representative, having represented Fiji at the Oceania Athletics Championship in 2015 and 2017.

“I love discus and had the opportunity to represent Fiji in the event after representing my alma mater Marist Brothers High School.

“I also sustained injuries while training and instead of just putting on a strap I thought I would learn more about the body and how it works,” he said.

He said learning about the mechanics of the body allowed him to help other athletes overcome or manage injury so they were always performing at their best.

He added he was excited about the opportunity to be a part of an Olympic team.

“The Olympics is the dream, it’s one thing being part of an Olympic team it’s another to be part of a medal-winning Olympics team and that is the dream for the whole team,” he said.