PAUL COFFA
THE STRENGTH OF THE PACIFIC
1994- 2020
Culture, Passion, Strength, Commitment.
The strength of the Pacific
To be strong in the Pacific Islands is both natural and an essential part of life. Pacific Islanders love the aspect of strength related sport. And that is why the sport of weightlifting is an ideal sport for them. It fits in with their culture and their way of life. Pacific weightlifters seem to lift with passion. They tackle the bar fearlessly, and lift with an energy that can possibly only be described as brute strength. A commonly asked question amongst spectators is, ‘how can these young pacific islanders be so strong?’ After 26 years of living in the Pacific and coaching them, it still amazes even me at the natural ability which they possess.
My family and I moved to the Pacific in October of 1994, thanks to the invitation from these Nauruan VIP’s and Government officials, Vinson Detenamo, Lawrence Stephen and Ruben Kun. What I witnessed during these 26 years living in the Pacific, in our sport, may be described as impossible to believe. But it is in fact true. Prior to leaving for the Pacific, I had coached Australian teams for 16 years. Plus I was the coach of the Hawthorn weightlifting team for over 25 years. During this period, I occasionally saw Pacific Islanders compete in regional events. I nicknamed them ‘Coconut Lifters,’. These lifters were not serious about the sport they competed in; it was for them a mere prospect for fun and enjoyment. As a result, I didn’t take much notice of them or their strength. But all that changed when I moved into the Pacific.
I stayed in Nauru; a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean from 1994 to 2001. In the beginning there was only one lifter competing for Nauru and that was Marcus Stephen, who would go on to become the President of the Republic of Nauru, the President of the Nauru Olympic Committee and President of Nauru Weightlifting Federation. I coached Marcus in Melbourne for the 8 years that he resided in Australia – first in boarding school and then university. By the time I left Nauru, over 170 lifters were training and competing. Over 170 lifters out of a population of 10,000 people. With those figures, Nauru at the time had per capita the highest number of lifters in the world. Below you will see some photos of some of the top lifters of Nauru. Unfortunately, I am missing photos of well over 100 lifters. I hope at some stage I will be able to collect some of these.
NAURU:
These are some of Nauru greatest lifters
Marcus Stephen C &J 175Kg during a
tournament in Nauru back in 1999 at 64kg b/w.
Nauru’s first ever weightlifting team – December 1994
My wife Lilly and our three children moved to Nauru in 1994 to start a new chapter in our family.
Macus Stephen and Paul Coffa at the 2006 Melbourne's Commonwealth Game.
1998 - The Nauru Weightlifting Institute visited by the H.E Antonio Samaranch at the time President of the IOC and Keven Gasper at the time ONOC President
1999 The famous female Nauruan weightlifting team named "THE NAURUAN DOLPHINS"
The late superstar Reanna Solomon. Reanna won 2 Gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester. She represented Nauru at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She won the Oceania titles in 2004 and she won 2 gold and 1 silver at the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva-Fiji.
One of Nauru’s greatest weightlifters ITTE DETENAMO. Represented Nauru at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the
2012 London Olympics. Best lifts in the Super-heavy category 185kg snatch and 235kg clean & jerk. He won a
bronze medal at the 2005 World Junior championships in Korea. At the Melbourne Commonwealth Games he won bronze, a silver medal at the 2010 in Delhi- India, and a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. At Oceania level in his 20 years of lifting he won eight Oceania Championships and 20 Gold medals at the Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
He competed at many World Championships and Commonwealth Championships. A true champion in every way.
A true ambassador for our sport.
205kg Clean & Jerk in training in 2008
Without doubt the best male weightlifter I have ever coached. YUKIO PETER- 75kg category, best lifts 165kg snatch, 205kg clean & jerk. Squatting 280Kg. Like Itte Detenamo, both lifters started with me in 1998. Both trained at the institute in Fiji, then Samoa and finally New Caledonia. Yukio represented Nauru at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi – India, a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships held in Qatar in the clean & jerk in the 75kg category. He won 10 Oceania Championships and 10 Pacific Games medals.
During his career he competed at many world championships. Very seldom he missed a lift in training. He was simply a superb lifter with a superb physique.
When he was jerking 180Kg in the 75kg category, I told him that if he clean & jerked 200 kg within a year I would give him my Ford Capri sports car. He did it within three weeks and it cost me the car.
Charisma Amoe - Tarrant 87+ Category, Won a silver medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Uzbekistan. She won also the Oceania Championships in 2018.
Suzanne Hiram.
She lifted for Nauru in the 48kg category. She was Oceania champion in 2006 and 2007. She won 6 gold medals at the Pacific Games.
Nita Uera - Jeremiah
was the first female lifter for Nauru. She started lifting in 1994. She was competing in the 59kg category. She won 3 Oceania Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Won 1 Gold and 2 Silvers at the 2003 Pacific Games.
Rudin Thoma - a young and very talented lifter. He won the 2000 Oceania Championships. Competed in Poland and Bulgaria World Junior Championships in China.
Won 3 gold medals at the 1999 Pacific Games.
Daniel Diringa another talented Nauruan lifter competing in the 75kg category
The Late Tyoni Batista lifting in the 53kg category. 1998-1999-2000 Oceania champion. Won 6 Gold at the Pacific Games.
Sheeva Peo - Cook one of Nauru's top female lifters. Competed for Nauru at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She was Oceania champion in 1999. Won 3 Gold medals at the 1999 Pacific Games in Guam.
Sheba Deireragea - 75kg Silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne. Oceania Champion in 2001 -2002 and 2003. She won 3 gold medals at the 2003 Pacific Games in Suva - Fiji.
So sad to see these three champions athletes passing away. All of them great individuals and great lifters.
The Hon. Sprent Dabwido was a super
heavy weight. Competed for Nauru at
the World Championships in 1997 in
Thailand. Sprent become the President
of the Republic of Nauru before his
illness took over.
Nauru also lost their junior lifter in Trevino Nimes. He was on the first Nauru team to compete internationally. He competed at the World Juniors held in Poland in 1997.
Ringo Scotty passed away in a tragic
accident. Ringo was one of the first lifters to join the weightlifting club back in 1994. He was a great team member and did everything to assist
the young lifters coming up.
Kemp Detenamo Nauru super-heavy weight. Represented Nauru at the 1997 World Championships. He won Gold at the Mini Games in Pago Pago in 1997
Gerard Garabawan competed in the 100kg category. He was a member of the Nauru Olympic team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Gerard won 3 gold medals at the 1997 Mini Pacific Games held in American Samoa.
“When I was staying In Nauru, If I ask them to train 3 times a day, they were delighted and loved this more than the usual two times a day training sessions. In Nauru, lifters would train from 10am to 12 noon, 4pm to 7pm and then again from 11pm to 1am. (midnight) Interestingly it was at the 11pm to 1am session that I would get the best results from them. That was the whole team training together with many of their families watching. Mind you the weather at time of evening was between 26 to 30 degrees”.
Rutherford Jeremiah - 2004 Oceania Champion. Won Gold at the 2003 Pacific Games in Suva. He was a member of the Nauru team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Larko Doguape a very talented lifter for the Nauru. He was a member of the 2018 Commonwealth Games held at the Gold Coast. Won 3 gold medals at the2017 Mini Pacific Games in Vanuatu.
Ebonette Deigaeruk won 4 Oceania Championships in the 48kg category. She won 3 bronze medals at the commonwealth Games 2002 in Manchester. She also won 3 Gold medals at the 2013 Pacific Games.
The late Choku Olsson. Nauru lost a great personality to illness. He was a great lifter and a real true friend. He was one of the first group pf lifters to start weightlifting in 1994.
Elson Brechtefeld, one of Nauru superstars. He represented Nauru in so many international events. He competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He wont oceania Championships in 2013 and 2019. He also won 3 gold, 6 silvers and 3 bronze medals in four Pacific Games and Mini Games.
Quincy Detenamo the present National Coach was one of Nauru superstars. Represented Nauru at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Oceania Champion in 1999 and 2002, won 3 gold medals at the 1999 Pacific Games.
Trent Dabwido - next to Marcus Stephen the most respected official in the Nauru team. Presently the general secretary of the Nauru Weightlifting Federation. Competed in many international events. Silver medal at the 1999 Pacific Games. He competed for Nauru at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1988.
Trent Dabwido seen here part of the technical officials at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and also part of the Tokyo 2020-21 Olympics.
One of the promising young female lifters I had was Shilo Tamakin. Born in 1987, at the age of 12 she clean and jerked 105kg at 85kg bodyweight.
Renos Doweiya, another great Nauruan Weightlifter. Won 3 bronze medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Renos was Oceania Champion in 2001 and 2004. Renos won 1 gold medal and 2 silver medal at the Pacific Games held in Suva Fiji.
Starron Dowabobo Nauru's best 52-56kg lifter. 2004-2005-2006-2008 Oceania Champion. He also won 3 gold medals and 6 silver medals at Pacific Games.
Iska Kam - Young Nauruan Superheavy 1999 Pacific Games Gold medalist.
During this period of time there were many lifters who trained in Nauru, but unfortunately I don’t have any photographs of them. Below are the names of those lifters…..
Jane Dagea 48cat. Thelma Raidinen 59cat. Mary Diringa 75cat. Michaela Detenamo 75cat. Francin Dongobir 48cat, Utako Aliklik 58cat. Decalina Joram 48kcat. Edessa Batsiua 58cat.Twylight Smith 58cat. Lemasu Eongen 69cat. Lesuma Atsimine 69cat. Lesuma Eongen 69cat.. Micharda Tannang 69cat. Willen Dagego 56cat. Dan Botelenga 56cat. Chako Daniel 56cat, Cody Edwards 56cat.Johnny Dowabobo 56cat. Timothy Dageago 56cat. Legon Scotty 56cat. Itsit Cook 62cat, Tommy Daniel 62cat. Gad Teabuge 62cat. Hunter Itaia 62cat. Ejab Raidinen 63cat. Alkhali Thoma 67cat. Chris Rangidimi 69cat. Etsit Cook 69cat. John Tsiode 69cat. Link Mobit 69cat. Marcou Duburiya 69cat. Michael Tannang 69cat. Bronco Deiranaw 75cat. Michael Dimapillis 75 cat. Ika Akiklik 77cat. Tom Jaye 85cat. Marcus Cook 85cat. Val John Starr 85cat. Lobo Agege 85cat. Rioli Peo 85cat. Timmy Denuga 85cat. Bodi Buramen 90cat. DaigaAgir 90cat. Dedo Silk 90cat. Jaxon Jeremiah 90cat. Lennon Peo 94cat. Talvic Thoma 94cat. Bambi Bill 100 cat. Dawson Agege 100cat. Samuel Dongobir 100Cat. Cosmos Dongobir 100cat. Miok Agir 100cat. Aremwa Aremwa 105+ cat. Gerald Jones 105+cat.
Not sure what standard and categories these lifters were:
Anon Kakiouea, Barbio Detenamo, Binoka , Blackie Tamakin, Bodica Dongobir, Bosco Adam , Cam Garoa,Candy Ika, Chesty Duboriya,Cinet Stephen, Coski Amwano, Cyzrist Daniel, David Edwards, Dean Dageago, Debricson Hiram, Deri Cook, Dirk Dageago, DevinAdam, Elton Scotty, Epi Timothy, Eric Halstead , Eric Scotty, Ernest Stephen, Falavi Ali, Imran Scotty, Iros Menke, Jacob Scotty, JakeDebao, Elizabeth Seete ,Isabella Duburiya, Jason Tannang , Jerock Limen,John Bill, JohnItsmaera , Joshua Scotty, Karate Addi , Kazz Olsson, Kelvin Starr ,Keurta Agianang, Kyoma Adumur, Lovey Adam, Luthuly Quadina , Marsena stephen ,Martin Detenamo, Mereiya Halstead, Monray Angabate, Nana Kappel, Noah Falanga, Paul Doguape, R. Jeremiah, Randell Enos ,Reggae Halstead ,Riape Dabana, Roach Iga , Roak Notte, Robunion Kapua,Rocky Denuga, Roko Baguga, RondalynAdun, Rosember Grundler , Rosina Gourab, Sam Bruce, Samuel Roland,Sebas Ribauw , Simina Daniel, , impson Maaki, Seb Ribauw, Solomon Tom, Teruo Capelle, Tinahnee Dongobor.Tonga Ratabwiy, Trevor Hiram, Turson Debao, Wayne Scotty, Dobbie E[hrain, Cypriano Dabwido, Garrison Grundler, Paul Enzo Scotty, Samuel Teabuge.
FIJI
Then in 2002 my family and I built a beautiful house on the beach in Sigatoka, Fiji. And at the same time, I decided to build a weightlifting gym in Sigatoka at my cost. The land itself was provided by Ratu Makutu. And from then on, the regional National Olympic Committees took the opportunity to send their young lifters to the Institute in Sigatoka in order for them to be elevated to the standard of the Nauru weightlifters. Sure enough they were. So many countries took the opportunity starting from Niue, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Micronesia. And naturally Fiji. This was the beginning of the Oceania Weightlifting Institute
With Fiji hosting the 2003 Pacific Games, the NOC and their National body made sure that every single Fijian trained at the institute. By the end of 2003, Fiji developed a super team, led by Della Shaw-Elder who finished up competing at Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
Della won three gold medals at the 2003 Pacific Games held in Suva -Fiji. She was a great athlete and I was proud to coach her for so many years. Today Della is the President of Fiji Weightlifting and Vice President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.
Della Shaw Fijian most successful lifter. Competed for Fiji at the 2004 Athens Olympics and at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Maria Liku one of the finest young lifter of Fiji. She won 3 silver medals at the 2003 Pacific Games. Maria also won the 2010 Oceania Championships.
Apolonia Vaivai Fiji bronze medal winner at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. She won the 2016-2017 Oceania title. Apolonia also won 3 gold medals at the 2017 Mini Games. She represented Fiji at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Manueli Tulo, one of the finest weightlifters in the Oceania region. He represented Fiji at the 2012 London Olympics. Tulo won the Oceania Championships 8 times. He also won 12 gold medals at Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
Joe Vueti one of the greatest coaches in the Pacific. As a lifter Joe represented Fiji at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also represented Fiji at World Championships. Joe won the 2000-2003 Oceania Championships. He also won 12 gold and 6 silver medals at Pacific Games.
It is interesting that in 2004 the President of Fiji Weightlifting was Major General Sitiveni Rabuka. Today he is the Prime Minister of Fiji and Patron of Weightlifting Fiji.
Below you will find a lot of names of Fijian lifters who trained at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute whilst we resided in Sigatoka. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of them:
Rupeni Varea, Petaia Nabukabuka, Abdul Raman, Peniasi Taqua, Joseph Maikali Kai, Vira Marea, Valami Dau,Yaralele Saulekaleka, Sera Tawai, Kesa Tawai, Ivy Shaw, Anna Dewa, Isaia Rasila ,Ratu Kini Ratuva, Andi Kuruivitu, Litia Raiwadi, Loata Kunaware, Nancy Nataki, Vani Tarea, Bon Vikau.
MICRONESIA
The Olympic Committee of Micronesia in 1997, whilst I was in Nauru, asked if it would be possible for a young lifter by the name of Manuel Minginfel could join the Nauru lifters in Nauru and for me to coach him.
Manuel Minginfel from 1997 onwards to 2016 was part of the Oceania Weightlifting Institute program. He became one of the greatest weightlifters in the history of Oceania. Competing at the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic Games.
Nine times Oceania champion and winning 24 gold medals and 3 silver medals at Pacific Games. He won a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Santo Domingo in the 60kg category with a lift 165kg in the clean & jerk.
SAMOA
In 2005 I moved to Samoa. The late Seiuli Paul Wallwork had come to Fiji and was staying at my house for a couple days. Reason being was that Samoa had been hit by a cyclone and no planes were able to land. So, during this time he convinced me to move to Samoa as he would be able to convince the Government to allocate a very large centre – in fact it was a stadium – for the institute. For many years Seiuli was in charge of sport in Samoa. And being a dear friend of mine, he was able to convince my family to move across to Samoa.
So, in October 2005, the Oceania Weightlifting Institute was relocated to Samoa together with all the Pacific lifters who were staying at the institute in Fiji.
THE WEIGHTLIFTING STADIUM IN SAMOA
With Jerry Wallwork as President of Samoa weightlifting, we turned Samoa in to a weightlifting Mecca. During our time in Samoa, we had international tournaments, Pacific Games, World Cup and Commonwealth Championships. Media exposure and full Government support. World records were established by Chinese lifters in Apia. The weightlifting stadium during these international events was not only packed but standing room only. It was a dream come true in Samoa.
THE PACKED WEIGHTLIFTING STADIUM DURING WEIGHTLIFTING TOURNAMENTS
I was lucky enough together with Jerry to start off the Opeloge sisters - Ele and Mary. Ele Opeloge eventually became the only female Olympic medallist in the region. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games where Jerry Wallwork coached her. Below are a few of the lifters that I had the privilege of coaching in Samoa
Uati Maposua
Niusila Opeloge
Ele Opeloge
Jerry Wallwork training with the Australian in Sicily prior to the 1992 Barcellona Olympics
having trained in Australia, he wanted his son Jerry to experience the Australian hard training at Hawthorn. He made sure that Jerry spent a couple of years with me in Australia in the very early 1990’s.
Jerry travelled with the Australian teams to a number of international events where he represented Samoa. He competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. He won a silver medal at the 1991 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
Mary Opeloge
PALAU
Whilst in Samoa, Steve Patris – the President of Palau Weightlifting brought across his son Stevick Patris and twin daughters Alexandra and Alexandrina Patris.
Incredibly in 2007 these young kids finished up winning gold medals at the Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. Stevick went on to train at the Institute for many years after that.
First in Samoa and then in New Caledonia. He competed in the 2012 Olympic Games. Stevick was the 2022 Oceania champion and won 3 Gold and 3 Silvers and 7 Bronze medals at Pacific Games.
Today, Stevick Patris is the President of the Palau Weightlifting Federation.
NIUE
Niue Weightlifting Federation had three top lifters training at the Institute. First in Fiji, then Samoa and then New Caledonia. The lifters were Sioe Haioti who was a medallist at Oceania and Pacific Games. She also competed for Niue at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. So did Danny Nemani. He was a medallist also at Oceania and Pacific Games and competed also at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Other top lifter that Niue had at the Institute was Narita Viliamu. She also was a medallist at Pacific Games and competed at the World Junior Championships in Bucharest where she placed 4th. Today, Narita is the President of Niue Weightlifting.
Narita Viliamu - President of Niue Weightlifting Federation
Sioe Haioti - 2005 Oceania champion, Sioe represented Niue at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Danny Nemani - Niue top male weightlifter competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Three lifters from the Cook Islands trained at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute. They were Sam Pera Sr. Sam Pera Jr. and Luisa Peters.
Sam Pera Sr. was the first one to enter the institute in Sigatoka, Fiji, in 2003, becoming a medallist at Pacific Games and Oceania Championships. He also competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. His son Sam Pera Jr. was a superb weightlifting athlete, also winning medals in the region, and competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Both father and son competed against each other at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Whilst Luisa Peters trained at the Institute in New Caledonia for many years. She also was a medallist at the Pacific Games and Oceania Championships. Competing at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Also she competed at 3 Commonwealth Games 2010-2014-2018. She won six bronze medals at the Pacific Games in 2015 Papua New Guinea and 2017 in Vanuatu. And I proud to say that today Luisa Peters is the President of the Cook Islands Weightlifting Federation and a member of the IWF Athletes Commission.
COOK ISLANDS
Luisa Peters - President of the Cook Islands Federation.
Sam Pera
Sam Pera Junior
TONGA
Two lifters from Tonga trained at the Institute. Kefilini Tualau joined the institute in Samoa and competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She also won the 2006 Oceania Championships in the 90+kg category. At the Pacific Games held in Apia- Samoa in 2007, Kefilini won 3 silver medals.
The late Mamaloa Lolohea finished up 4th at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the super-heavy category. He competed also at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Mamaloa won 1 gold, 8 silver and 3 bronze medals at Pacific and Mini Pacific Games. He was a true champion and a true gentleman.
The Late Mamaloa Lolohea , Tonga best ever male lifter.
Kefilini Tualau
NEW CALEDONIA
Once I left Samoa at the end of 2007, the New Caledonia Government and the Olympic Committee of New Caledonia convinced my family and I to relocate the institute program to New Caledonia. And with the assistance at the time of the President of New Caledonia Weightlifting, Monsieur Ronald Frere, they promised that they would construct a purpose built facility specifically to cater for the weightlifting institute program. And in August 2009, the opening ceremony of the new facility took place in Mont Dore. It would become the headquarters for the Oceania and the Commonwealth.
The IWF weightlifting personalities who travelled to New Caledonia for this special occasion were Mr. Ma Wenguang
the General Secretary of the IWF and President of the Weightlifting Association of the People’s Republic of China, his
personal secretary Ms. Wang Yan who was the Competition Manager for weightlifting at the Beijing Olympics. Mr.
Sam Coffa, the Vice President of the IWF, Mr. Nicu Vlad also Vice President of the IWF, the President of the
European Weightlifting Federation, Dr. Antonio Urso, many times world champion Mr. Blagoi Blagoev, Mr. Matthew
Curtain, London 2012 Weightlifting Competition Manager, and Ms. Reiko Chinen from Japan representing the 2016
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Under the leadership of Sir John Dawanincura, President of the PNG National Olympic Committee, weightlifting became possibly the most successful sport in PNG. It produced some of the greatest lifters Oceania has seen.
In 2002, he made sure that young Dika Toua – then only 18 years of age – joined the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in Sigatoka, Fiji. And to date she is still associated with me – 22 years later.
She became an icon in the sport of weightlifting in the region. I have been fortunate to have coached her from 2002 to 2024. She competed at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, in Athens 2004. In Beijing 2008, in London 2012 and in Tokyo 2021.
She has one gold and two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, competing at the 2002 Manchester, 2006 Melbourne –
where she won silver, 2014 Glasgow – winning gold, 2018 Gold Coast – winning silver, and placed 4th at the 2022 in Birmingham. She held records in the 48kg category, 49kg category and 53kg category. Today she is still the record holder in the 49kg category. She won a record 14 Oceania Championship titles. At Pacific Games and Mini Games she won a staggering 25 gold medals And I am proud to say that today she is the President of the PNG Weightlifting Federation
Steven Kari
So many other lifters were introduced to the institute by Sir John Dawinincura including Steven Kari. Another great weightlifter winning a gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and a Gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. He represented PNG at the 2012 London Olympics. He won six Oceania Championships and ten gold medals at Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
Morea Baru
Morea Baru is currently training with me in Melbourne. Morea made his mark at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he placed 4th in the 60kg category. He won a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and a silver medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He competed in two Olympic Games. His best performance was at the 2016 in Rio competing in the 61kg category where he totalled 290kg. He also competed at the Tokyo Olympics. Morea has so far won 9 Oceania Titles and 17 gold medals at Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
So many other lifters trained at the Institute and won medals in the Oceania region.
Thelma Toua - 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 Oceania Champion. Thelma also won 6 gold medals and 6 silver medals at the Pacific & Mini Pacific Games. she was a member of the 2018 Commonwealth Games team for PNG
Sandra Ako - 2015 Pacific Games Gold and Silver medallist
Guba Hale Pacific Games medallist
Lorraine Harry Pacific Games medallist
Freda Oala - 2016 Oceania champion
Toua Udia - 5 times Gold medallist at Pacific and Mini Pacific Games. Member of the 2014 Commonwealth Games team.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Only three lifters I had the pleasure of coaching from the Solomon Islands. One was Wendy Hale. She competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The other was Mary Kini Lifu. She was also an Olympic representative at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Jenly Tegu Wini. I had the pleasure of coaching her since the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia. She became an icon in Solomon Islands and the Oceania region.
She competed at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. But perhaps the highlight for her country was when Jenly became the first athlete male or female to win a medal at a Commonwealth Games. She won a bronze medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She competed also at the 2010, 20014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
She was awarded the Sportswoman of the Pacific Games in 2023 in Honiara for her outstanding performance in all sports, by the Pacific Games Council.
Jenly won 9 Oceania titles and won 15 Gold and 3 Silver medals at Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
Mary Lifu - 2021 Olympic Games member, Pacific Games and Mini Games Gold and Silver medallist
Wendy Hale - National women coach of Solomon Island. 2008 Beijing Olympic representative.
AMERICAN SAMOA
Taumafili Jungbult
Tanumafili Jungbult
competed for American Smoa at the 2016 Rio Olympics He won 3 silver medals at the 2019 Pacific Games. Also 1 bronze medal at the Mini Pacific Games in 2017.
TUVALU
From Tuvalu I was privileged to coach three lifters. Logona Esau – a very successful lifter in the region. Winning medals at regional level and representing Tuvalu at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Lapua Lapua was another great lifter from Tuvalu who was a member of the institute for many years. Just like Logona he won many medals in the region. He competed at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Plus the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Ioane Haumili joined the institute for a short period in 2010. He was a very promising young lifter.
Lapua Lapua - was the winner of 6 Silver and 3 Bronze medals at the Mini and Pacific Games.
Logona Esau - won 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals at the Mini and Pacific Games.
KIRIBATI
Another great regional lifter, this time coming from Kiribati, was the one and only, David Katoatau. Whilst I was in Nauru, in the 1990’s, David was just a young boy living in Nauru. He was trying to learn weightlifting. David grew up and by the time we were in Samoa, the Olympic Committee of Kiribati made sure that David Katoatau joined the institute. And what a character David turned out to be.
DAVID KATOATAU
David competed at the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. One of the greatest achievements was David winning gold at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He competed in many Pacific Games and Oceania Championships winning 7 Oceania Championships and 12 gold medals at Pacific Games, 6 silvers and 1 bronze.
David was a real crowd pleaser. His dancing performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow brought the house down and he was from then on nicknamed the ‘dancing lifter’. Other top lifters from Kiribati who were members of the institute are as follow:
Ruben Katoatau - 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games member. 2018 - 2022 - 2023 Oceania Champion. Winner of the 6 Golden 5 Silver at the Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
Takenibeia Toromon - 2011 - 2012 Oceania Champion. Winner of 4 Gold and 2 Silver medals at the Pacific Games.
Taretiita Tabarua - 2017-2018 Oceania Champion. 2018 Commonwealth Games team member. Winner of the 2 Gold and 4 Silver medals at the Pacific Games.
Tiiau Bakaekiri - Winner of 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals at the Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
EILEEN CIKAMATANA (The ultimate!)
What a dream to be able to coach an elite lifter right from the beginning. Eileen came from an island of Fiji, called Levuka. She was introduced to weightlifting at the age of 13 by Peni Tawaii, her school teacher. After a while Joe Vueti, the brother of Peni, took over her coaching. He coached her for two years. She was training in a gym built at the top of a mountain and it was called the JUNGLE GYM. From the little town where she went to school she needed to climb over 300 very steep steps every day to training. And it wasn’t only Eileen, there was many other young students doing the same thing. And if they were late, Joe would make them go down the mountain and climb back up again. What a workout that was. No wonder the fitness level when she arrived at the institute in New Caledonia was superb.
The Jungle Gym where Eileen started her carrier --- The school kids on the way to the Gym.
In 2015, Joe Vueti, sent a young Eileen to New Caledonia to attend the OTIP camp. OTIP was a program which was developed by the OWF to identify young talented lifters throughout the Pacific Islands and it ran every year. During this camp, I immediately recognised that Eileen had all the ingredients that it would take to be a world champion.
She moved to New Caledonia at the age of 15 and in the first year of her training at the institute, she won a gold medal at the World Youth Championships in the clean & jerk and a bronze medal in the total. This for Eileen was the launching pad to a great future. In 2017 she won two silver and one bronze at the World Junior Championships. Also in 2017 she won the Oceania and Commonwealth Championships held on the Gold Coast. She won three gold medals at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. And a gold medal in Ashgabat. Establishing Oceania Junior and Senior records along the way. 2017 was a very good and rewarding year for Eileen.
2016 World Youth in Malaysia gold medal in the Clean & Jerk, Bronze total.
2017 World Juniors in Japan, 2 Silver medals and one Bronze medal.
2017- Oceania and Commonwealth Junior and Senior Champion.
In April 2018, she won a gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and became the first Fijian to win a gold medal in all sports (male or female) at Commonwealth Games level.
Late 2018, she decided to move to Australia, under the ‘distinguished talent’ stream. Once she received her Australian citizenship in September 2019, nothing could stop her. She won the World Cup in Peru in October 2019. In December 2019 she won the World Cup in China and established four world junior records which still stand today. Then in January 2020, she won another World Cup in Rome, where she attempted the World Senior record with 159kg.
2018 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist at Gold Coast.
Set four World Junior records in China during the 2019 World Cup. She won 3 Gold medals
3 Gold medals and a World senior record attempt with 159kg in Rome 2020.
Coronavirus and an injury to her thigh (not from weightlifting) put a halt to the winning streak. Then in 2021 at the World Championships in Uzbekistan, when everyone finished lifting, she took her first attempt on 141kg – a weight which was well below her best but unfortunately the thigh injury occurred again and she bombed out missing a chance of winning the world championships which she wanted so much. She won a bronze medal in the snatch.
It took quite a long time to overcome the thigh injury. Therefore her first international appearance was in Saipan where she won three gold medals at the Pacific Mini Games. Then on to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, where she easily won gold for Australia. Then in Colombia later in the year at the world championships she won 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals.
Gold medal lift at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham- England in 2022
In 2023, she competed at the World Championships in Riyadh winning two bronze medals Then at the Pacific Games and Oceania Championships held in Honiara in the month of November 2023, she won three gold medals. After that she went on to the World Cup in Qatar in the month of December winning one silver and two bronze .
202023 World Championships held in Riyadh
Qatar World Cup - December 2023
April 2024 Phuket - Thailand Gold medal in the Clean & Jerk with 149kg.
Eileen training Partner -
Shanade Mulelly
Then in April 2024, at the World Cup in Phuket, she won the gold medal in the clean & jerk and bronze overall.
Paris is her next stop. Will she win a medal at the Olympics ……lets HOPE.
Eileen is coach’s dream. She never misses training sessions. She never complains. She never questions. She has full trust in the coach. And I am so proud to be her coach. Best lifts – 122.5kg snatch, 156kg clean & jerk, total 274kg.
Paul Coffa