‘Family’ the driving force behind Tongan Para swimmer

The Paralympics Games 2024 kicked off in Paris, France this week and one Pacific medal hope is excited to be returning for a third time to the pinnacle of her sport.

Tongan Paralympic swimmer for New Zealand’s team, Tupou Neiufi joined the Pacific Mornings show with host William Terite and shared her unique experiences as a Paralympian.

Twenty-three-year-old Neiufi is a Paralympic gold medallist and won silver in the 100m Backstroke S8 at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Tupou Neiufi winning gold in the women's 100m backstroke S8 in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games /Photo/RNZ/PHOTOSPORT

S8 is a classification for para swimmers with limited coordination, moderate leg movement impairment, or reduced overall muscle strength.

Neiufi’s first Paralympic Games was in Rio 2016 where, at age 15, she placed 7th in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S9.

Her second Paralympic Games was in Tokyo 2020 where she won New Zealand’s first gold medal in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S8.

Neiufi said it is “definitely such a privilege to represent New Zealand at another Paralympics. Not a lot of people can say they’ve been to an Olympic or Paralympic, so for me to be at my third one says a lot itself.

“I’m super stoked to be here and hopefully we have another one coming up later.”

Neiufi shared her experience of being at the Games without her family but feels their support through the power of social media and spiritual connection.

“With my family, it's a bummer they're not here, but it's not cheap to come to Europe. So, especially with an island family of nine, that's literally looking at about like $20K plus to get here. But I know that even though they're not here with me physically, they're here with me spiritually.

“And obviously with the power of social media, we're able to connect with each other over the phone at any point of the day or night.”

"I know that even though they're not here with me physically, they're here with me spiritually," says Neiufi on missing her family /Photo/NZ Paralympics Team

Despite the pressures and challenges leading up to and during the competitions, having her family and friends as her strong foundation and support system gave her the drive to push through each obstacle and achieve success.

“Family and friends, just people that support you along your journey and are willing to take out the time to help you get to where you want to be.

“Also just self-belief … I've been really hard on myself at times and I guess to be able to…it was really helpful for me at a certain point to take advice and compliments and stuff from other people.

“I kind of had to learn that the only way I'm going to be able to be positive and be accepting of things and people's advice and compliments was to be less hollow on myself.

“I tell myself that I've got this trust the process … God first trust in God that he will let things fall in place,” said the para-swimmer.

Neiufi also expressed her feelings towards her pride and culture as a Tongan representing New Zealand at the Paralympic Games.

“I'm very proud of my heritage and who I represent, my family back in Tonga, and also my family here. It's just a very big thing to me.

“And I think it's because back then, when I was a lot younger, I didn't really, it wasn't really something that I had valued.”

“The way I see it is that just because I don’t understand or speak the language, doesn’t make me any less of a Tongan.”

Other para-swimmers representing New Zealand include Cameron Leslie, Jesse Reynolds, Lili-Fox Mason, Gabriella, and Joshua Willmer.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games began on 28 August and will conclude on 8 September 2024.

Watch the full interview below.