Weightlifting Coach, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, is pleased with team's effort where they dominated the weightlifting at the 2019 Arafura Games in Darwin. 

Seven weightlifters in the team each won a gold or silver medal.

They also broke or set six Commonwealth and 10 Oceania weightlifting records.

Coach Tuaopepe was very proud of the team’s efforts. 

“Many achieved personal best performances. 

“They have worked hard all year and credit goes to the team.”

Don Opeloge, 19 won Samoa’s first gold yesterday in the men's 89kg division, breaking multiple records in the process.

He set new Oceania and Commonwealth senior and junior records with his 156kg snatch, and now leads Olympic qualification in the 89kg division.

Feagaiga Stowers, 18, and Iuniarra Sipaia, 25, finished first and second for Samoa in the women's 87+ kg, with total lifts of 225 kg and 253 kg respectively yesterday.

Sipaia’s 146 kg clean and jerk sets a new Oceania record, as did Stowers’ 115 kg snatch.

Petunu Opeloge, 24, won gold in the men's 102 kg division yesterday, setting a new Oceania senior record with a 195 kg clean and jerk.

Sanele Mao (33) won gold in the men's 109kg division yesterday, setting a new Oceania senior record with a 210 kg clean and jerk.

Maeu Nanai Livi, 20, set new Oceania junior and senior records with his 151kg snatch in the 96kg men's division on his way to a silver medal yesterday.

This follows the performance of Vaipava Nevo Ioane, 31, who won silver in the men's 67 kg division on Saturday.

The Samoa Weightlifting team’s next tournament is the International Weightlifting Federation Junior World Championships & Olympic Qualification from May 29-June 8 at Suva, Fiji.

That tournament will be crucial in the lead-up to the Pacific Games Weightlifting event in July, which is also doubling as the Commonwealth and Oceania Championships as well as an Olympic qualifier.