Silver medal

The silver, the secret, and a baby named Birmingham: The emotional journey of Samoan weightlifter Nevo

The 34-year-old was carrying a sporting secret he wasn't sure when or where to reveal.

But even then, something much bigger was on his mind.

On top of the secret he would later reveal to his coach and teammates, his wife was pregnant and would give birth any day.

She had no support back home in Apia.

Nevo had spent his last days on Samoan ground finding a babysitter to look after their three young children for when the newborn would arrive.

The thought of his wife needing him while he was on the other side of the world was nearly too much to bear.

Samoan lifter's gesture towards India's Jeremy Lalrinnunga on the podium wins hearts

“It is a Samoan magic necklace, which we use for good luck and friendship. Jeremy is my friend and I thought to put in across his neck to wish him luck," the Samoan weightlifter said later as the participants left the venue, with broad smiles on their faces and medals across their necks.

Silver medal finish for Samoa men’s relay

Jeremy Dodson who finished the race for Team Samoa said they tried their best on the track.

"Our whole team gave it our all in this race. For me, I'm a relay runner and today I didn’t show it. My best attribute is my type of speed but for my Samoan brothers who did the relay race with me, we have a lot of time to prepare for future races."

For young Kelvin Masoe, he said he was thankful for all the support shown by the crowd today.

Opeloge wins silver medal for Samoa

The 18 year-old lifted a personal best 151kg in the snatch but missed his final two attempts at 188kg and 191kg in the clean and jerk.

He finished with a total of 331kg at the Carrara Sports Arena, seven kilograms behind Venkat Rahul Ragala from India, who also beat him to gold at last year's Commonwealth Championships.

Opeloge said he wanted to win the gold medal but made a mistake at a key moment.

"I'm happy but I didn't beat (the gold medallist)...I missed my gold," he said.

Samoa receives its first Olympic medal after Ukranian drug cheats exposed

This week Opeloge was awarded a silver medal after two medal winners were exposed as drug cheats.

"I am so happy and thankful to God and the people of Samoa, supporting me," said Opeloge.

1 News reports in 2008 Samoa expected her to bring home the country's first Olympic medal, so her fourth place in China was devastating.

The Ukranian silver and bronze medal athletes tested positive for banned substances, cheating Opeloge of her Olympic moment.

In Samoa Opeloge was presented with her Olympic silver medal on Thursday night.

 

     

Samoa Weightlifting says medal deserves reward

The Samoa government is facing pressure to provide a monetary reward for Ele Opeloge, who was awarded the silver medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics after two competitors were disqualified for drugs.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the government's policy was to only offer monetary awards for gold medal winners.

Ele and Niusila Opeloge and Faavae Faauliuli all won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi seven years ago.

The President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork, was their coach.

Emma Foy wins cycling silver in Rio

 The pair finished behind Great Britain in the women's B 3000m Individual Pursuit.

New Zealand's newest tandem pairing of Amanda Cameron and Hannah van Kampen finished fourth.

Foy, who only entered the sport of para-cycling just over three years ago, is joined by sighted pilot Thompson who brings extensive Paralympic Games experience after winning the trifecta of medals at London 2012.

Para-cycling was about team work with pilot Laura Thompson, Foy told Morning Report

PM awaits confirmation of silver medal for weightlifter

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was shocked when he received news of this development during a media conference yesterday.

He says while the new placement should move Opeloge into second place, he leaves the final decision to the Olympic Committee.

“That’s their responsibility. What we should take as a lesson here is to be very careful with these substances, that’s the more important thing for our Olympic Committee and athletes to be aware of,” Tuilaepa said.