He raised from poverty to Olympic gold. But he did not do it alone.

So many legends of the game among the winners and nominees for Players of the Decade Awards. But for me one of them stands out, as he did it against all odds.

Labeled "too small to play", a raw talent that was lacking the consistency, the training, the means and even the motivation to go beyond his usual bag of tricks. Started playing barefoot, with a coconut or a plastic bottle instead of a proper ball, occasionally catching the eye of selectors but never an obvious pick. Still, combining the efforts and influence of some people around him with his own hard work and determination, he started to bloom and build up around that raw talent.

His mother used groceries money to buy his first pair of boots and, when handing them over to him, she said "these are your knife and fork". He took that one step further and wrote "knife" of the left boot and "fork" on the right one, fueling his ambition every time he was stepping on a pitch.

His coach helped him change his habits and mentality, ignited his passion and molded him into an all-round player. His captain and senior colleagues kept him on track and helped him mature. And the people of Fiji made him realize how blessed he is to represent them and bring hope to a struggling nation.

Just like in the ordinary professional life, talented people need the support and influence of those around them. Those in the position to spot the talent, to give it a chance and to create the right environment for development might learn something from this.

It was a bumpy road, not a fairytale. Like most humans he struggled, he had his ups and downs, wins and losses, and his fare share of challenges and mistakes. Yet, he inspired millions around the world and brought Fiji its first Olympic Gold Medal ever.

Still the smallest man on the pitch, but now also the Rugby 7s Player of the Decade. The Fijian Inspiration, Seremaia (Jerry) Tuwai.