Samoa marked a milestone in its sporting history with its debut appearance at the 2025 Pickleball World Cup, earning its first international medals and drawing new attention to the fast-growing sport across the Pacific Islands. 

Goretti Su’a led Team Samoa’s breakout performance, winning gold in the 50+ 4.5 women’s singles division and securing silver in the 50+ 4.5 women’s doubles alongside an Australian partner. Her victories were the country’s first medals on the world pickleball stage and highlighted the rapid rise of the sport in Samoa.

Seventeen-year-old Owen Smolik of Ululoloa, the youngest athlete on the team, advanced to the semifinals of the U34 3.5 men’s singles after defeating the draw’s top-seeded Venezuelan player. Smolik finished fourth overall, narrowly missing a medal but signaling Samoa’s growing potential to compete internationally at the youth level.

In the World Cup Open division, Samoa faced Germany in Pool F. The match ended in a 3-3 deadlock after wins were split across gender doubles, mixed doubles and singles. Germany prevailed in the team-singles tiebreaker, but Samoa’s performance impressed spectators and demonstrated its ability to challenge more established nations.

Team officials noted that adjusting to international formats and rules presented early challenges, but Samoa’s athletes adapted quickly. The team’s debut has already generated increased interest in pickleball across Samoa and the wider region, prompting discussions among other Pacific nations about future participation.

Plans are underway to strengthen local pickleball pathways, including facility upgrades, coaching support and youth development programs aimed at building on the momentum from the World Cup. Officials say they hope Samoa’s inaugural campaign will serve as a launching point for long-term growth and international competitiveness.

In June this year, Samoa hosted the first-ever international pickleball competition, which took place at the Apia Park Tennis Complex.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net, where players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball in singles or doubles. The sport is known for being easy to learn and accessible to a wide range of ages and skill levels.