Team Samoa continues to make waves at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, proudly holding second place on the medal tally with a total of 50 medals, 23 gold, 10 silver, and 17 bronze, in just the first week of competition.

In Beach Volleyball, duo Kuresa and Talia thrilled fans with back-to-back wins in two exciting matches, showing grit and skill on the sand.

Samoa’s youngest weightlifting star, 15-year-old Sefulu Seuao, amazed spectators by collecting three medals, silver in the Snatch (F) 69kg and two bronze in Clean and Jerk and Total in the same weight category.

Swimming sensation Paige Schendelaar-Kemp has earned the title of Samoa’s Golden Girl, with an incredible haul of 10 medals, four gold, two silver, and four bronze. Her most recent gold came in the 100m Freestyle, where she smashed nearly three seconds off her preliminary time, finishing at 57.84 seconds.

“You're in, you're out. So really just hit in, kick, and just get my hand on the wall first. This meet is just about getting that gold medal tally up for Samoa,” she said. She also thanked her support team, adding, “Without them, I’m nothing.”

Another swimming highlight came from Hector Langkilde, who took silver in the 100m Freestyle, improving his time from heats to 57.38 seconds in the final. 

“I just keep telling myself to go fast, keep going, just go fast,” said Langkilde, whose strategy paid off.

Talia Saumamao delivered a standout swim in the 1500m Freestyle, taking home a bronze medal and smashing her personal best by 11 seconds, clocking 18:45.23. 

“I was nervous, but it was really good. I just did a really good swim,” she shared.

In archery, Jil Walter showed sharp focus to win three medals: two bronze in the 70m Recurve Ranking and Elimination Rounds, and a silver in the Oceania Mixed Teams event.

Seine Stowers, just 17 years old, made Samoa proud by winning three gold medals in weightlifting, in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk, and Total events in the 77kg category. Also excelling was Avatu Opeloge, who claimed three silver medals and set three Oceania and Pacific Games records.

In athletics, Iorana Taufafo Tafili claimed gold in the Hammer Throw (Female) with a new national record and personal Best of 54.13m.

More weightlifting glory came from Emmanuel Palota Ulimasao, who earned three gold medals in the Clean and Jerk, Snatch, and Total events in the (M) 94kg division.

Jack Opeloge, 24, added to Samoa’s tally with two golds (Clean and Jerk and Total) and one silver (Snatch) in the 110kg division after a hard-fought battle on the platform.

In Va’a, lone competitor Anne Cairns closed out her campaign with a bronze in the V1-Marathon 16km. She also had the honour of winning Samoa’s first gold of the competition.

To round off the day’s success, Samoa earned bronze in the Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay, with the team of Johann Roberto Stickland, Hector Langkilde, Nafanua Hamilton, and Paige Schendelaar-Kemp, finishing in 1:39.38.

With the competition heading into the second week, Team Samoa’s athletes continue to represent their country with pride, talent, and dedication, making every match, lift, and stroke count.