Samoa Weightlifting

The team lifted winning scores of 371.48 kilograms against Australia.

The Oceania Weightlifting Federation Premiers League said in a statement that they are impressed with Samoa's performance in the first round.

"A magnificent start to the AU$80,000 League Tournament. The Premiers League and League A kicked off last weekend in brilliant form. Samoa hungry for results produced some true world-class performances in this first round," reads the statement.

SWA President, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork said he is proud of his team's achievements but it does not stop there as they will continue on with their training. 

"There is a lot of uncertainties right now, but we are still training as always. The team is well prepared if ever they'll go to the Tokyo Olympics," he added.

"Right now, everything is an 'if' due to border restrictions and also there are a lot of uncertainties."

Samoan top weightlifter, Done Opeloge continues to impress his trainers with his achievements.

Samoa Weightlifting Association President, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork confirmed the new records were set at their test competition at the gym in Tuinaimato.

In the Men’s 96kg division, Don Opeloge achieved a new Oceania senior record with a snatch of 175kg.

The previous record was 165kg.

In the Men’s 109kg division, Sanele Mao set a new Oceania senior record with a snatch of 181kg with the previous record 166kg.

The Samoa Weightlifting team snatched the title for the OWF Online competition.

The team continues to train at their homebase in Tuanaimato. 

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.

The 20-year-old won gold in the 96kg men division and lifted 164kg in the snatch which was 74kg more than the silver medalist, breaking his own Oceania record of 160kg.

For the clean-and-jerk, Opeloge broke his own personal best and equaled the Commonwealth record of 210kg, while breaking his own Oceania record of 202kg.

His other team mates were also outstanding at the competition. Vaipava Nevo Ioane has become Samoa’s second Olympic qualified lifter, taking out the gold medal for the men’s 67kg division while setting a new Oceania record in the Clean n Jerk.

Sports Minister Loau Keneti Sio said there is a buzz around the country's sports fraternity because of the historical feats of boxer Joseph Parker and weightlifter Opeloge.

In December a half day holiday was announced and Parker was welcomed to the Samoan capital of Apia with much fanfare.

Similar celebrations are expected when Opeloge is finally presented with her Olympic medal.

The Samoan lifters have scooped nine gold medals after three days of competition.

President of the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee Patrick Felulea’I is not surprised with the performance of his lifters at the PNG Power Dome in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

“Our weightlifting team I think is our strongest team here and as you know in weightlifting you get three gold, two in the two disciplines and one in the total, so I think we pretty much on track on our expectations for our weightlifting team,” said Felulea’I.