The rise of Rakuro
THREE names were chosen to represent Fiji at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in July 1958.
They were Mesulame Rakuro, Jo Tokona and Viliame Liga. Tokona competed in the high jump while Viliame was chosen as a javelin thrower
Mesulame Rakuro became Fiji’s first Olympics track and field athlete when he represented the country in the 1956 games in Melbourne, Australia.
The Fiji Times of April 11, 1958 said Rakuro, was named team captain and competed in the discus event where he set a longstanding record that stood for over six decades.
He also represented Fiji in discus at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 and in Rome in 1960.
Together with Tokona, Rakuro represented Fiji at the Malayan Independence Day in September 1959.
In the 1958 games, Ba native, Rakuro improved his performance at the games in 1954, where he was placed eighth.
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, Wales, from July 18 to 26, 1958.
Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1130 athletes and 228 officials to the games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya and the Isle of Man.
The Cardiff Games introduced the Queen’s Baton Relay, which has been conducted as a prelude to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games since. Rakuro’s discus throw of 51.84 metres, which he set in 1958 was only broken this year by Mustafa Fall with a throw of 53.04m.
Rakuro also represented Fiji in the inaugural 1963 Suva South Pacific Games, winning gold medals in discus and shot put. He was invited to compete in the Malaysian Championships in 1957 where he won a gold medal in shotput.
He collapsed and died at his home in Drasa, Lautoka in 1969 at the age of 38.