Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday paid tribute to the Pacific island nation's first gold winner, Iliesa Delana in the Paralympic Games in London.

Delana, 27, won gold in the F42 high jump event with a jump of 1.74 meters on Tuesday morning, becoming the first Fijian to win gold at the Paralympics after he beat six other athletes in the competition and just the second Paralympic medal by a Pacific athlete.

Prime Minister Bainimarama hailed that Delana's win in London is a win that should be celebrated by all Fijians. "This week, the whole world watched Mr Delana win gold for himself and for Fiji. This is something that we should be proud of and something we should celebrate."

"To win the first ever gold for Fiji in the Paralympics is an enormous achievement. At the international level, it doesn't get much better than this." Bainimarama said, adding "I congratulate Iliesa for his strength, his dedication and commitment to his own goal of 'winning gold' and being the best in his sports."

"Delana's win in London is a reminder that we can all do great things if we commit and dedicate ourselves to what we want," says the prime minister.

According to local media in Fiji, Delana, a former college student, said his hard work with his coach has finally paid off though he didn't expect to win any medal at all.