The crowd stood in awe and gave John Tafi a standing ovation as he smashed his second record of the night in the Senior Men’s 71-kilogram division in the IBFC Universal Weightlifting Championship.

Spectators cheered Tafi on as he broke the clean and jerk Oceania record with a 171kg lift. Moments earlier, he broke the snatch record with a 140kg lift. He took gold for snatch, clean and jerk and overall. He also received the Universal Cup.

The 24-year-old said this was a blessing from the Almighty, the guidance from coaches and support from his family.

“It was tough but I was determined and I am glad that with God and family, I have managed to do this. The journey does not end here. The preparations continue as I am focused on the Commonwealth and then the Olympic Games,” he told the Samoa Observer.

Earlier in the day, Tafi’s younger brother, Falevaa Tafi, delivered a remarkable performance to win bronze in the men’s 65kg A category, while 13-year-old Shanyiah Seuao made an impressive start for the host nation in the junior competition.

Falevaa Tafi secured a bronze medal in the men’s 65kg A category at the IBFC Universal Weightlifting Cup 2026.

Tafi opened his snatch with 106kg and went on to successfully lift 111kg and 115kg. In the clean and jerk, he completed lifts of 131kg, 135kg, and 140kg, finishing with a total of 250kg. Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru took the silver medal, while India’s Charu Pesi won gold.

13-year-old Shanyiah Seuao opened competition for Samoa in the junior 58kg division at the Oceania Championships. She lifted 42kg, 45kg, and 48kg in the snatch, succeeding on all first attempts. In the clean and jerk, she completed 50kg, 55kg, and 61kg, finishing with a total of 109kg.