Tara Murray
Donnybrook javelin thrower Donny Tuimaseve continues to push the throwing boundaries despite never having a coach and having taught himself how to throw.
Twenty-three-year-old is currently in England representing Samoa at his second Commonwealth Games.
Tuimaseve taught himself how to throw a javelin by watching vision and tips on YouTube.
It has worked well, as he broke the national record twice, including at last month’s Pacific Mini Games in Northern Mariana Islands.
“I first saw a jav[elin] in high school, I had never tried it and I had never watched it in person or on TV before,” he said
“I just threw the jav. It was quite funny at first. It didn’t land well, as it landed on its tail.”
It was quickly realised that Tuimaseve had some potential in the sport and encouraged him to pursue it further.
Tuimaseve became hooked on the sport and realised it was where his passion lied.
“Ever since I started competing in javelin for Samoa I saw it as a big opportunity for me and it was something I liked to do,” he said.
“Getting my first medal for javelin was a good feeling. To come from a country where there is not much equipment, but to still be able to compete well I found it really fuelled my passion.”
Tuimaseve and his family decided to move from Samoa to New Zealand in 2017 to give him more opportunities within the sport.
He lived in New Zealand for almost two years, before he headed to the Philippines as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ for the next two years.
During that time javelin was put on hold. When COVID-19 pandemic hit, it became three years without any javelin training.
After completing his missionary service, Tuimaseve again moved countries to help with his sporting dreams and in 2021 arrived in Melbourne.
As he got back to his passion of javelin and with support from Athletics Samoa, he set his sights on Birmingham, looking to improve on his results from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games where he competed as an eighteen-year-old.
He finished 10th in 2018.
Tuimaseve has had a solid preparation heading into Birmingham including a dedicated training camp in May and a gold medal at July’s Pacific Mini Games.
The goal at the Commonwealth Games is simple for Tuimaseve. He trains in Craigieburn, while he works for People 2U in Campbellfield.
He is set to compete in the rounds on Friday, with the finals on Sunday.
“I want to improve and throw over the 70 metres mark and get another national record for Samoa,” he said.
“It means everything to me getting to represent my country Samoa again, it is always a good feeling because not only am I representing myself and my family, but I am representing a whole nation.
“They are supporting me 100 per cent, it feels good hearing the crowd and feeling the support from everybody moves me
“Then one day I want to make it to the Olympics.”
