Nineteen -year-old Alefosio ‘Sio’ Laki is on his way to this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after taking up the sport discus three years ago.
The Hampton Park teenager, who will represent his family’s homeland Samoa at the Games, said he was very excited
Mr Laki, who has cerebral palsy, said his physiotherapist got him onto discus because she thought he would have a knack for it.
He was placed on the Samoan team through an agreement between Athletics Australia and the athletics body in Samoa and the Australian team would be his biggest competitors.
He said his goal was to beat his training record of 40m.
“My parents were really happy,” he said about his selection.
“I just love going down and meeting new friends at the (athletics) track.
“I like discus because I think it’s the only thing I can do better than (other people).
“I am doing three days at the gym and three days at the track, I am training for three hours each day. At the gym I do weightlifting and I do fitness training at Casey Fields.”
Currently finishing Year 12 at Hampton Park Secondary College in Victoria, he said didn’t have a favourite sportsperson and admired anyone who made a living and became famous out of playing sport.
His main post-graduation plan is to get full time work and he said he would work hard at any job he was given.