Rusiate Rogoyawa

Rusiate Rogoyawa (born 16 May 1961) is a Fijian cross-country skier. Born in Cikobia-i-Lau, he moved to Norway in 1982 to study electric engineering. His participation at the 1988 Winter Olympics, where he became the first athlete for Fiji at a Winter Olympics, was eventually funded by the International Olympic Committee. He competed in the men's 15 kilometre classical and placed 83rd out of the 85 athletes that competed. In the next years, he also took up boxing and rugby, before competing again at the 1994 Winter Olympics. In the men's 10 kilometre classical, he placed last.

Biography Rusiate Rogoyawa was born on 16 May 1961 in Cikobia-i-Lau, Fiji. His mother is Rusiate Nayatevakalaion. Rogoyawa stated that his first name meant "Richard the Lion-hearted" while his last name meant "well-known". He left his hometown in 1982 (Several sources While he was in Norway, he married a Norwegian woman.) and thus the flag bearer for the opening ceremony.

Rogoyawa had planned to compete at the 1992 Winter Olympics, He was again designated as the flag bearer for the 1994 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Upon completing the event, Rogoyawa had stated that he felt "heavy", though remained positive as he further stated that he wanted to show that Fijians can ski as well.