SUMMER OLYMPICS
In an impressive display of strength and dedication, IOC scholarship holder Taniela Rainibogi clinched a silver medal in the 102 kg category at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.
In an impressive display of strength and dedication, IOC scholarship holder Taniela Rainibogi clinched a silver medal in the 102 kg category at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Vanua Levu lad will now have to compete at the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket, Thailand which begins in April 2nd to April 11th, 2024 to merit a direct qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France in July.
Taniela's exceptional lifts of 160kg in the snatch and 205kg in the clean and jerk demonstrated his prowess in the weightlifting arena, earning him a well-deserved spot on the podium in the senior category.
Good friend and rival Samoan Don Opeloge managed a 175 in the snatch and a 215 in the clean and jerk to claim a gold medal.
Compelled by his commitment to represent the country, Taniela made the difficult decision to forego attending the funerals of his late grandmother and uncle who passed while he to continued training for the ongoing Olympic qualifiers.
"My aim is to have the honor of representing my country in the Olympics, a dream that fuels my training and performance on the weightlifting stage," he said.
Meanwhile, Koro Tuiqalau made a stellar debut on the international stage, winning two gold medals in the youth and junior men’s 102 kg category.
Tuiqalau’s impressive lift of 86 kg in the snatch and 107 kg in the clean and jerk saw him dominate in both categories.
24-year-old Timothy Vakuruivalu added to Team Fiji’s impressive outing at the Oceania Championships, winning a bronze medal in the men’s 109 kg category with a 120 kg lift in the snatch and 140 kg in the clean and jerk.
14-year-old Mereia Claris Talei Turaganivalu who competed in the Youth, Junior, and Senior women's 59kg category, she secured a gold medal in the Youth division, exhibiting impressive strength and technique.
Teammate and 14-year-old athlete, Nehemiah Elder also claimed a gold medal in the Youth snatch category, setting a new Oceania Youth Snatch record at 125kg but also levelled the Oceania Youth clean and jerk record with an impressive lift of 137kg.
