Team Samoa's impressive run at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games continues as they maintain second place on the medal tally with 11 gold, two silver, and nine bronze medals, bringing the total to 22.

Weightlifting started on Thursday and delivered big results for Samoa. John Tafi won three gold medals in the 71kg men’s category, breaking three new Oceania records and three new Pacific Games records. 

Anoni Taulua earned three bronze medals in the 58kg women’s event. 

Swimming has also brought success for Team Samoa.

Paige Schendelaar-Kemp continued her strong form. After winning a gold and two bronze medals earlier in the Games, she claimed the 50m Short Course Butterfly title in 27.57 seconds. She was all smiles on the podium as her teammates and Samoan supporters cheered her on.

It was a proud day for the Hamilton family. Solomona Hamilton won gold in the Men’s 200m Backstroke with a time of 2:05.36, while his sister Nafanua Hamilton won the Women’s 200m Backstroke in 2:18.29.

“I had a bit of a rough heat swim today. I was a bit under the weather, but I just went home after my heat, had a good rest, came back tonight, energised. I aimed to push the first 100 and just hold on,” said Solomona.

“It’s still very unreal at the moment. I’m very happy, very proud. I started a bit behind the pack, and then I think I just did well catching up. It was very up to the touch with the Tahiti and the Cook Islands,” said Nafanua.

Their mother, Ivapene Seiuli and Team Manager, was emotional about the achievement.

“I probably have no words. It’s very rare for me not to have words. I’m still up in the clouds. I haven’t quite come down yet. I thought I was going to just explode with delight and excitement," she said. 

"All the morning training, the evenings, the packing the breakfasts as you drive them, and all those things now are just like this moment’s just a dream come true for any parent. That support has come from our whole family and our villages. Hopefully, all the children in Samoa could see that it can happen as well."

Nafanua also raced the 100m Breaststroke Final, finishing with a time of 1:16.12.