From weighing 110 kilograms to running a 100-kilometre race, Elyse Sene Lefao has become the first female Samoan to complete the gruelling Ultra-Trail Australia (UTA) race, marking a historic milestone.

The 25-year-old who proudly hails from Lalomauga and Satupaitea in Savai'i crossed the finish line of one of Australia’s toughest endurance events with a heart full of pride and a mission to inspire. “Honestly, it’s hard to describe,” she said. “It was a different feeling than crossing any other finish line I’ve run through.”

“Even though I didn’t place or win this 100km Ultra-Marathon, to be the first in my country to do it opens the doors for us Polynesians to get more involved in running and ultra trail running. Honestly, I’m so honoured, blessed and overwhelmed to be the first female to do it,” she said. 

 Despite being born and raised in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia, Elyse is a proud Samoan. 

In 2021, Lefao weighed 110 kilograms and found it difficult to run even 100 metres without tears. That struggle sparked a turning point. “Running was always hard growing up,” she explained. “I knew I needed to make that hard not hard anymore.”

She began going to the gym, transforming her relationship with food, and gradually embraced running. By 2023, her passion for the sport was undeniable. She ran her first 10km, 14km, and 12km events that year and was soon unstoppable.

“I just wanted to be the best version of myself,” said Lefao. Her progress continued into 2024, where she took on trail running, completing the Sydney Trail Marathon and her first 50km race. Her ultra-running journey took her as far as Yorkshire, England, and finally, to the iconic UTA100 event. 

Lefao credits her motivation for running the UTA100 to a challenge from a race organiser. 

“After I finished my first ultra in August 2024, the organiser, Alex said, ‘Now 100km.’ That stuck with me. I knew I had to do it.”

Training for the event was intense. She ran five days a week, incorporated strength training, and sometimes doubled or tripled her sessions. But it wasn’t just physical, it was a mental battle, too. “This race was mentally demanding. I had to train my mind for anything,” she said.

Despite suffering from a band flare-up that affected her knee and being stuck in a two-hour bottleneck just 14km into the race, Lefao pushed through. “From that point on, my goal time went out the window. I just needed to finish. I didn’t let my knee pain stop me.”

Being the first Samoan woman to complete the UTA100 is a monumental achievement. But for Lefao, the true victory lies in inspiring others. “It’s special because I’ve opened up more Polynesians to step into ultra-trail running,” she said. “My whole goal is to get our people and all Pacifica into this space.”

She hopes her story encourages others to pursue the sport, despite its challenges. “Yes, it’s scary, but it’s such a beautiful sport to be in,” she added.

Lefao's message to aspiring runners: “Keep showing up for yourself, do the hard work, stay consistent, and back yourself.”

With the UTA100 behind her, Lefao is already preparing for her next challenge: the 100km Mt. Kosciuszko race. She also has her sights on the 160km Miller Ultra, with hopes of finishing among the top 20–50 in her age group.

“There weren’t any moments I wanted to give up,” she said, reflecting on the race. “Even when things went wrong, I adjusted and kept going.”

Lefao credits her success to her strong support system. “My partner Paul is my right-hand man; he does all my food prep, drives me to events, and is always at the finish line. My family and community backed me from the beginning.”

Lefao hopes to be remembered not just as a runner, but as a source of inspiration. “I want to be remembered as someone who inspired the uninspired. Someone who showed up for herself, even when things got tough.”

And for those curious about ultra-running, she offers a fun fact: “You’re not running the whole time! Some sections are so technical it feels like abseiling. But to succeed, you have to sacrifice a lot and stay committed and you cant run without shoes ,” she said 

In breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible, Elyse Sene Lefao is not just making history she’s paving the way for the next generation of Pacific Islander ultra-runners.