Fiji’s teenage weightlifting sensation Nehemiah Elder has made history at the 2025 IWF World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru, becoming the first Fijian to claim gold at a World Championship event.
The 16-year-old was outstanding in the Men’s 89kg Youth Division, clinching gold in all three categories — Snatch, Clean and Jerk, and Total. Elder lifted 152kg in the snatch and followed with a 180kg clean and jerk, achieving a total of 332kg to secure a clean sweep of the medals.
The result not only marked a historic first for Fiji but also set a new personal best for Elder, who just four weeks prior at the Oceania Junior and Youth Championships in Melbourne, lifted 317kg in total. In Lima, Elder improved his snatch by 10kg and his clean and jerk by 5kg.
Competing in Group A of the combined Youth and Junior Championships, Elder placed first among 12 youth lifters and held his own in the Junior division — finishing in an impressive joint 10th place against competitors up to three years older.
Head Coach Henry Elder credited the historic victory to their unwavering faith, stating: “We give all the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ for the strength, blessings, provision, and protection He has provided. This win is His.”
The coaching team acknowledged the many supporters behind the historic result, including the Ministry of Sports through the Fiji National Sports Commission and the Fiji Sports Council, the Weightlifting Fiji executive team led by President Della Shaw-Elder, mission leaders Pastors Timoci Navunisaravi and Netani Naiteqe, and family and friends of the wider Weightlifting Fiji community.
