OCEANIA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION Newsletter

April, 2018

COMMONWEALTH GAMES – GOLD COAST What a great games the Gold Coast put on. The auditorium was packed to the rafters almost every day. The competition was fierce. The event was brilliantly organised and the volunteers were superb. All in all, an outstanding success.

Oceania lifters did very well, winning fifteen medals. At the same time history was created when the Solomon Islands won its first ever Commonwealth Games medal. Papua New Guinea also made history when Steven Kari won back to back gold medals plus two silver medals. Samoa’s performance was tremendous, winning two gold and two silver medals. Australia won one gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Fiji picked up the first ever gold in weightlifting plus a bronze medal. Nauru continued with their record of winning medals at every games – this time a silver medal.

Tia -Clair Orr -Australia Steven Kari -Papua New Guinea Dika Toua -Papua New Guinea Morea Baru -Papua New Guinea Jenly Wini- Solomon Isl. Gold medallist 58Kg Category Gold medallist 94Kg Category Silver medallist 53Kg Category Silver medallist 62Kg Category Bronze medallist 58Kg

Category

Francois Etoundi --Australia

Bronze medallist 77Kg Feagaiga Stowers -Samoa David Liti -New Zealand Charisma Amoe Tarrant -Nauru Lauititi Lui -Samoa Category Gold medallist +90Kg Category Gold medallist +105Kg Category Silver medallist+ 90Kg Category Silver medallist +105Kg Category

Yet, we could have done better. Four more gold medals could have gone Oceania’s way. Meaning that we could have finished up with ten gold. But unfortunately for Dika Toua, Nevo Ioane, Don Opeloge and Morea Baru, their last lifts – each one for gold – did not stay up. In the photos below you see just how close those gold medals were. HOW CLOSE CAN YOU GET TO FOUR EXTRA GOLD MEDALS..

Morea Baru -PNG missing 163kg for Gold Don Opeloge -Samoa missing 191kg Nevo Ioane – Samoa missing 175kg for Dika Toua- PNG missing 113kg for in the 62Kg category for Gold in the 85Kg category Gold in the 69Kg category Gold in the 53Kg category

DAVID LITI …AWESOME PERFORMANCE AND SPORTSMANSHIP

And the awesome performance of young David Liti of New Zealand, winning gold in the +105kg category totally 403kg. In addition he was the winner of the David Dixon award as the best athlete of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. What a huge honour and recognition, well deserved. It was a fiercely fought battle between David and Lauititi Lui from Samoa. Unfortunately Lauititi injured his knee badly in his third clean and jerk. David at the medal ceremony was a true sportsman. He helped Lauititi to get on to the stage by pushing the wheelchair so that he could receive his silver medal. Special congratulations to Tina Ball in looking after this young man for many years and taking him to the top – great coaching Tina !

The five day event ran smoothly. The organisation was impeccable. Congratulations must go to Ian Moir, the competition manager, Craig Wegert, Bowen Stuart, Linda Eades and the many volunteers – most of them weightlifters. The forty international technical officials did a great job, under the guidance of Attila Adamfi, Director General of the IWF and Nicu Vlad, IWF Technical Chairman. All in all, an extremely enjoyable and successful event on all fronts. A special acknowledgement must also go to the IWF, the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), the IOC Olympic Solidarity, the regional NOC’s, the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in Mont Dore, New Caledonia, the Comite Territorial Olympique Sportif (CTOS) and the Government of New Caledonia for the support given to the Oceania regional weightlifters. TRAINING VENUE THE SUPER TEAM

The training venue at the games was very impressive. The super team led by Ian Moir-Competition Manager The hall was fully equipped with Eleiko equipment and that made it all happen. From left, Linda Eades, Bindy it ran like clockwork. Again almost all the volunteers at Balacs, Bowen Stuart, Ian Moir, Craig Wegert and the training venue were weightlifters. Tiarrn Raymond. A job extremely well done.

PACIFIC WEIGHTLIFTERS FLAG BEARERS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY There is no question that weightlifting in the Pacific islands, next to rugby, is the most popular and successful Olympic sport internationally. Of the fourteen Oceania Commonwealth countries, six weightlifters were flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony.

Jenly Wini Apolonia Vaivai Itte Detenamo David Katoatau Lauititi Lui Manuila Raobu Solomon islands Fiji Nauru Kiribati Samoa Tuvalu

CWF ELECTORAL CONGRESS The CWF Electoral Congress was held on April 4th at the Mercure Gold Coast Resort in Carrara. The Congress was attended by thirty-eight countries. The results of the elections were as follows: PRESIDENT: Dato Ong Poh Eng – Malaysia

: VICE PRESIDENTS EXECUTIVE BOARD: Dr Kevin du Plooy – South Africa GENERAL SECRETARY: Della Shaw -Elder - Fiji Garry Marshall – New Zealand Paul Coffa MBE Dr Michael Irani - England AUSTRALIA Tom Liaw – Singapore Philip Maunder - Australia Jesmond Caruana - Malta Robert Rose - Seychelles ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Sir John Dawanincura -Papua New Guinea John O.Ogolla - Kenya Shri Birendra Prasad Baishya - India Trent Dabwido Andrew B.Callender Barbados NAURU Ben Nunoo Mensah - Ghana Ibrahim Bangura – Sierra Leone COMMITTEES: Chairperson: Technical Sam Coffa -Australia , Chairperson: Medical Dr Moni Kami -Tonga, Chairperson: Masters Coral Quinell -Australia, Chairperson: Women Gardencia du Plooy -South Africa , Chairperson: Marketing Andrew Daubney -Australia, Chairperson: Coaching & Education Lyn Jones -Australia .

Many VIP guests attended the Congress. From the International Weightlifting Federation there was President Dr Tamas Ajan and General Secretary Mr Mohammed Jalood , as well as the IWF Director General Mr Attila Adamfi and Mr Nicu Vlad Vice President IWF. Two regional IOC Members Dr. Robin Mitchell from Fiji and Ms. Auvita Rapilla from Papua New Guinea. Mr Andrew Minogue the CEO of the Pacific Games Council. The European Weightlifting Federation President, Dr. Antonio Urso accompanied by the Director of Administration of CONI, Dr. Alberto Miglietta from Italy. Sam Coffa, President of the Australian Commonwealth Games Federation and Deputy Chairman of the GOLDOC Organising Committee. From the Commonwealth Games Federation we had Mr Darren Hall Director of Corporate Services and Mr Andrew Hibbert, Head of CGA Relations. From the Oceania Region the OWF President the Hon. Marcus Stephen. From the Eleiko company the Technical Director, Mr Stefan Berg. From the CWF, Mr Michael Noonan CWF Statistician. From Trukai Industries, Mr Andrew Daubney and from the AWF, the President, Mr Craig Wegert.

During the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth next year, will be held in Samoa in conjunction with the Oceania Championships and the Pacific Games. The 2020 Commonwealth Championships will be held in India.

th 38 Countries attending the 2018 CWF Electoral Congress on the Gold Coast on April 4 The main table with the IWF President & Gen. Secretary attending.

VIP Guests at the CWF Electoral Congress: from left Mr Attila Adamfi (IWF),Hon Marcus Stephen IWF &OWF VIP’s Guests. From left Mr Mohammed Jalood (IWF (OWF), Dr Robin Mitchell (IOC Member), Ms Auvita Rapilla (IOC Member) Dr Antonio Urso (EWF), Gen. Secretary, Dr Mike Irani (IWF Board Member), Hon Marcus Dr Alberto Miglietta (CONI), Mr Andrew Minougue (PGC), Mr Stefan Berg (Eleiko), Mr Michael Stephen (OWF President), Dr Tamas Ajan (IWF President) with Noonan (CWF). CWF President Dato Ong Poh Eng and Sec. General Paul Coffa.

PRESENTATIONS TO VIP’S

Dato Ong Poh Eng President CWF, presents a gift to IWF Dato Ong Poh Eng presents an appreciation Dato Ong Poh Eng presents an appreciation President Dr. Tamas Ajan plaque to Mr Darren Hall (CGF) gift to Mr Mohammed Jalood (IWF)

Stella d’Oro to Sam and Paul Coffa A special presentation was made to Paul & Sam Coffa by Dr. Alberto Miglietta, the Administration Director of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and also Dr. Antonio Urso, President of the Italian and European Weightlifting Federations. La Stella d’Oro ( The Golden Star) was awarded to Sam and Paul for their enormous contribution over many decades towards the sport of weightlifting. In awarding the ‘La Stella d’Oro’, a letter received from Giovani MalagÒ President of CONI, Dr Antonio Urso and Dr Alberto Miglietta highlighted the recognition of the attending the CWF Electoral Congress. distinguished service to weightlifting by the Coffa brothers and their professional conduct towards the development of the weightlifting sport, not only in the Oceania region but also throughout the rest of the world. CONI wishes the two brothers further success and achievements.

Sam and Paul were born in Sicily, Italy before their family migrated to Australia in the 1950’s. Sam Coffa started his weightlifting career in 1953, whilst Paul started in 1958. Dr Antoni o Urso , and Dr Alberto Miglietta presenting the award to Paul and Sam Coffa.

THE OCEANIA MEDAL WINNERS Gold, Tia -Clair Orr AUSTRALIA

Silver, Charisma Amoe-Tarrant Gold, Feagaiga Stowers NAURU SAMOA

Silver, Kaity Fassina

AUSTRALIA

Gold, Steven kari Gold, David Liti NEW PAPUA NEW GUINEA ZEALAND

Bronze, Apolonia Vaivai Silver, Morea Baru PAPUA NEW FIJI

Silver , Don Opeloge SAMOA

Silver, Dika Toua PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Gold Sanele Mao SAMOA

MEMORY OF GOLD COAST

Dean Lukin 1984 Olympic gold medallist presenting == Fiji champion Eileen Cikamatana ecstatic in = I am the best! Tia Clair Orr jubilant after winning the 58Kg Cat. the silver medal to Lauititi Lui from Samoa +105Kg cat. winning gold with her first clean & jerk. Gold medal. She is the fittest women in the world. ncois

NO PAIN NO GAIN. Francois Etoundi from Australia injured his left arm badly, but he fought hard all the = The strongest man in the Commonwealth. David way and finished up winning a Bronze medal for Australia. Great effort Francois. Liti from New Zealand winning the +105Kg cat.

A lift to remember . Trailing 15 Kg behind Steven Kari from Papua New Guinea needed 216Kg clean & jerk to take gold. He stunned the packed stadium with a perfect lift. The lift was also a Commonwealth record by 6kg. With a standing ovation he picked up his coach Paul Coffa and carried him on the stage.

Paul Coffa with Mohammed Jalood at Promotion at it’s best in Australia. Damian Kelly Australian +105kg Surfers Paradise- Gold Coast champion on cut out boards throughout Woolworths supermarkets.

Paul Coffa MBE- Photos courtesy by Bowen Stewart -Australian Weightlifting Federation OWF General Secretary also Trent Dabwido CWF Assistant General Secretary