Leslie Copeland (athlete)

Leslie Copeland
Personal information
Full nameLeslie Arthur Copeland
Born (1988-04-23) 23 April 1988 (age 36)
Tavua, Fiji
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight102 kg (225 lb)
Sport
Country Fiji
SportAthletics
EventJavelin
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Fiji
Pacific Games
Gold medal – first place 2011 Nouméa Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 2015 Port Moresby Javelin throw
Silver medal – second place 2007 Apia Javelin throw
Pacific Mini Games
Gold medal – first place 2009 Rarotonga Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 2013 Mata-Utu Javelin throw
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Apia Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 2008 Saipan Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 2010 Cairns Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 2013 Pepeete Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 2014 Avarua Javelin throw
Updated on 23 August 2016

Leslie Arthur Copeland (born 23 April 1988 in Tavua, Fiji) is a javelin thrower from Fiji.[1] His father died when he was nine, but his father's sister aided him in getting an education. He attended Marist Brothers High School and later became a champion thrower. He represented Fiji at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2][3] At the 2012 Olympics, he was one place away from making the final.[4] He represented Fiji at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships. In the javelin throw event, he ranked 13th with a seasonal best mark but did not advance to the final. In 2016, he threw a personal best throw of 81.76m in Sydney, Australia.

Personal best

  • Javelin throw: 81.76m NR – Sydney, 2016

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Fiji
2004 Commonwealth Youth Games Bendigo, Australia 4th Javelin (700g) 60.63 m
2005 World Youth Championships Marrakesh, Morocco 22nd (q) Javelin (700g) 60.51 m
2006 World Junior Championships Beijing, China 7th Javelin 73.13 m
Oceania Championships Apia, Samoa 1st Javelin 67.28 m
2007 Universiade Bangkok, Thailand 20th (q) Javelin 62.57 m
Pacific Games Apia, Samoa 2nd Javelin 69.84 m
2008 Oceania Championships Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 1st Javelin 67.02 m
2009 Melanesian Championships Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 1st Javelin 67.99m
Pacific Mini Games Rarotonga, Cook Islands 1st Javelin 74.92 m
2010 Oceania Championships Cairns, Australia 1st Javelin 75.08 m CR
2011 Universiade Shenzhen, China 6th Javelin 76.75 m
World Championships Daegu, Korea 22nd (q) Javelin 76.57 m
Pacific Games Nouméa, New Caledonia 1st Javelin 78.41 m
2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 13th (q) Javelin 80.19 m
2013 Oceania Championships Papeete, French Polynesia 1st Javelin 76.87 m
World Championships Moscow, Russia 33rd (q) Javelin 72.30 m
Pacific Mini Games Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna 1st Javelin 68.62m
2014 Oceania Championships Rarotonga, Cook Islands 1st Javelin 70.66m
Commonwealth Games Glasgow, United Kingdom 10th Javelin 68.50 m
2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 32nd (q) Javelin 76.04 m

Seasonal bests by year

  • 2006 - 73.13
  • 2007 - 69.84
  • 2008 - 74.40
  • 2009 - 76.93
  • 2010 - 76.95
  • 2011 - 80.45
  • 2012 - 80.19
  • 2013 - 76.87
  • 2014 - 76.10
  • 2016 - 81.76

References

  1. ^ Leslie Copeland - Biography, Commonwealth Games Federation, retrieved 23 May 2015
  2. ^ "Fiji Times". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  3. ^ University of Central Lancashire Archived 23 December 2012 at archive.today
  4. ^ Johnson, Len (5 June 2013). "IAAF: Copeland takes the Javelin plaudits, Gerrard Leads Decathlon: Oceania Area Champs day two report| News | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Retrieved 24 July 2017.


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