Sophia Morgan

Not to be confused with Sophie Morgan.

Sophia Morgan
Personal information
Full nameSophia Frances Morgan
Born (2003-08-05) 5 August 2003 (age 21)[1]
Fiji
Sailing career
Classes
Medal record
Sailing
Representing  Fiji
Pacific Games
Silver medal – second place 2019 Apia Laser Radial team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Honiara Laser Radial individual
Silver medal – second place 2023 Honiara Laser Radial team

Sophia Frances Morgan (born 5 August 2003) is a Fijian sailor, who came second in the Women's Laser Radial team event at the 2019 Pacific Games, and the individual and team events at the 2023 Pacific Games. She competed in the laser radial event at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, and has qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Morgan grew up in Lami, Fiji,[2] and as a youngster, she played football in Rewa.[3] Morgan moved to New Zealand for high school.[2] She has studied at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland, New Zealand.[4] and later biomedicine at the University of Auckland.[5] Her father is also a sailor.[3]

Career

Morgan started sailing at the Royal Suva Yacht Club.[2] She chose to move to New Zealand to be involved in more competitive sailing competitions.[2] She came second in the Women's Laser Radial team event at the 2019 Pacific Games,[4] alongside Nelle Leenders.[6] In January 2020, she competed at the joint Australian and Oceania Championships, and the Australian Youth Championships.[7]

At the 2020 Women's Laser Radial World Championship, Morgan was the best place sailor from the Oceania region. As a result, she qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[4][3] She participated in the laser radial event,[7] and was the only Fijian sailor at the Games.[8] After qualifying for the Olympics, Morgan was invited to train with the New Zealand Youth sailing squad.[7][6] She also received a scholarship from the International Olympic Committee to fund her appearance at the Games.[4] In March 2020, Morgan came third in a college schools Starling class event.[9]

In January 2021, she came second in the youth event at the New Zealand Laser National Championships,[4] and in April, she came second in the Girl's Youth Laser Radial event at the Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta.[10] In May, she was the third woman, and seventh overall, at the NSFW Laser Championships. She came third in two races at the event.[11] At the Olympics, Morgan finished 42nd overall.[12]

Morgan was given an International Olympic Committee scholarship to aid her attempt to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[13] At the 2023 Pacific Games, she finished second in the individual and team events, and in December 2023, she was confirmed as qualified for the Olympics.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Sophia Frances MORGAN". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Our Sailor To Tokyo- Morgan Tells Of Olympic Preps, Hoping To Do Fiji Proud". Fiji Sun. 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Sophia Morgan latest Team Fiji athlete to qualify for Olympics". Fijian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Sophia Excited About Olympics". Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Morgan qualifies for Paris Games". The Fiji Times. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Team Fiji's 17-yr-old sailor going through final Olympic Games preparations". Fiji Village. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Sophia's". The Fiji Times. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via PressReader.
  8. ^ "Morgan trains amongst the best for Olympics". Fijian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Top schools battle it out at college sport regatta". Yachting NZ. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Oceanbridge NZL Sailing regatta big entry provides close racing at Wakatere BC". Yachting New Zealand. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  11. ^ "2021 Freshwater Champs - Lake Pupuke BC". NZ Lazer. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Sailing - Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial Schedule". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Morgan set to sail in Honiara". Fijian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.