Sanele Mao

Don Opeloge finished in second place.

Prior to the competition, Samoa had qualified after leading the points table with 6075.29 kg, followed by Australia with 2690.21kg, and Nauru following in 3rd place with 1882.25kg.

Mao continues to be impressive in the sport after he won the silver medal at the 2016 Oceania Weightlifting Championships, lifting a total of 335 kg.

Mao won Samoa’s first gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Mao claimed just Samoa's fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal when he hauled a combined 360kg in the men's 105kg class on the Gold Coast today, and second medal of any colour at these games following fellow lifter 18-year-old Don Opeloge's silver at 85kg. 

In honour of his favourite athlete he pulled out, Usain Bolt's trademark lightning bolt celebration after each successful lift, and watched proudly on as the Samoan anthem rung out when his success was confirmed.

"I'm so happy to win a gold medal - the first gold for my team and my country.