SASNOC reports on Team Samoa

Friday, 21 September 2012 16:02

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The Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee has reported on the performances on each of the eight athletes who participated in the London Olympic Games, 2012. The report, which was written by the Chef de Mission, Sebastian Kohlhase has been submitted to the  SASNOC Board and to Cabinet. A summary of that report was given to the Samoa Observer and is printed below.

1.  Mr. Aleni Smith (Judo) Mens 73kg Division.

Aleni Smith had a bye in the Round of 64 which advanced him to the round of 32 of the Elimination.  He drew Czech opponent 25 year old Jaromir JEZEK in the Round of 32.  Unfortunately he was defeated in a technical throw 'Tomoe-nage' deftly executed by his Czech opponent which led to their match being awarded to Jezek at around the 2min mark.  Since the Olympics the world rankings have come out with Jaromir Jezek ranked 28th and Aleni Smith at 99 in the world.  

2.  Maureen Epati-Tuimalealiifano (Individual Women’s Archery)

The format of these Archery eliminations was 3 arrows per Set, which are each totalled to award the Set to the highest score (or a draw) and the overall Win going to the shooter with the most wins out of the 5 Sets.  Team Samoa’s Maureen with her world ranking of 227 played against Sung Jin LEE from Korea, a Silver medallist from Athens 2004, seeded 2nd after the preliminary ranking last Friday and rated 28 in the world.

Maureen’s first arrow shot was a 7 followed by a Korean 10 (centre bullseye) so nerves seemed present, but from then on Maureen was very consistent with close groupings of 8s and 9s, whereas Lee averaged in the 9s and 10s. With only 3 arrows per Set in elimination rounds you really need to be consistent with all shots so it was great to see Maureen consistent but just losing each set by 2 or three points as she was unfortunate not to find the target centre on this outing like the Korean.

Final outcome was Lee winning the match by 3 sets.  After the match the management spoke with Maureen and she was quite happy with her performance considering that she only had 7 months to switch from compound to recurve.  More international exposure in terms on competition and training will definitely help her improve her game if she decides to continue with Archery and for the next Olympics.  Of the 64 archers, Maureen was ranked 63rd.

3.  To’afitu Perive ( Mens 77kg – Weightlifting)

Toafitu Perive increased his personal best competition total as he wrapped up his participation in the Men’s 77kg Weightlifting event. The 27 year old from Afega had prepared well throughout the week leading up to his competition but found himself up against other world class lifters in his bodyweight category, some of whom were just starting
their opening lifts at Toafitu’s heaviest lifts. Each competitor had just 3 attempts to post their heaviest successful lift in each of the ‘Snatch’ and ‘Clean & Jerk’ lift categories. The Total of the successful lifted weights would go towards their Medal ranking.

Toafitu matched his 122kg best in the Snatch but couldn’t complete his third lift, which was an attempt at 125kg. The eventual winner in this Men’s 77kg weight class, Xiao Lu from China posted a new World Record for the Snatch lift of 175kg. Perive then successfully completed all his 3 lifts in the Clean and Jerk category, his face on the large TV screens radiating a red mask of blood-pumped strain and determination to hold up a new personal best of 167kg. In the Clean and Jerk, the Gold medallist from China also hoisted the heaviest weight in the competition of 204kg. Our Team Samoa representative therefore had a combined total of 289 putting him in 11th place compared to the Chinese lifter’s winning total of 347.

Team Samoa weightlifting coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork commented, “I am satisfied with Toafitu’s performance to successfully complete 5 out of his 6 lifts. He achieved a new competition Personal Best 167kg in the Clean and Jerk category and matched his Personal Best in the Snatch. He performed above his past best total and we can’t ask much more of him in this type of competition.”

4.  Ele Opeloge (Women’s +75Kg – Weightlifting)

Our most favoured athlete to be close to medal contention after her Gold Medal win at the Commonwealth Games last year and her number 4 world ranking had the most unfortunate preparation to her Olympic competition, where she was looking to repeat or better her 4th Place at the Beijing Olympics back in 2008. After Typhoid earlier this year and training hard to get back to competitive fitness to compete and qualify in the Commonwealth qualifiers in Samoa in June, she then caught Chicken Pox just a week before departing Samoa so she was always fighting hard to get back into top shape. During the first week of training in London coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork reported she was regaining her strength and lifting closer towards her previous bests.

Over this recent second week however, Ele has been struggling with a strain of flu and a cough, which left her with chest congestion and fatigue restricting her full participation at training. Her fellow female roommates all offered her support and care, and even isolation she asked for to help recover as medicinal options were limited just before competition. At her Competition today, she appeared to be sluggish and her usually aggressive game face wasn’t there.
After initially registering 120kg on the board for her first lift for the ‘Snatch’, Ele instead came out early when the weight was 117kg. She completed the Snatch successfully but the lift didn’t appear to go as smoothly as expected. Ele then failed twice at Snatching 122kg, which normally she would have executed well. In the ‘Clean & Jerk’ lift Ele was successful with her lift of 150kg. She then failed to lift 155kg so she registered a Competition total of 267, which eventually gave her 6th Place overall. The exciting Competition continued with the crowd witnessing record-breaking lifts by the competitors from Russia and China as they battled for the win. Tatiana Kashirina from Russia took out the Snatch competition with a new World Record of 151kg to better China’s 146kg. Chinese champion Zhou Lulu then responded by winning the Clean & Jerk with an Olympic record equalling lift of 187kg to better the Russian’s 181kg.

5.  Emanuele Fuamatu (Men’s Shot Put) Athletics

Team Samoa's Emanuele Fuamatu maintained 17.78m as his official throw in this tough Men's event. The top 12 throwers go through to the Final later tonight.  Our team's young powerhouse is registered at 35th out of the 40 competitors, finishing ahead of Iceland, Albania, Canada, Ukraine and China.  Emanuele is still young and will need more competition and training to improve his performance and to take it to the next level.  Emanuele has a big future in the sport.

6.  Rudolf Berking-Williams (Canoe Sprinter) 200m & 1,000m

Rudolf entered into 2 events 200m & 1000m.  He first took part in the 1000m where he bowed out in the preliminary rounds.  He later on competed in the 200m (C1) which saw him make it through his heat and to the semifinals where he was eventually eliminated.  This was Rudolf’s second Olympics and he maintained his semifinal performance in the 200m.  Rudolf is currently based in New Zealand where he trains and work.

7.  Talitiga Crawley (+67kg Women’s Taekwondo)

In each weight category, the competition consists of a single elimination tournament. The winners of each contest qualify for the next round, with the two finalists going head to head in the gold medal contest. All competitors who lose to one of the finalists at any stage of the competition enter the repechage. The two semi-final losers meet the winners of the two repechage pools; these matches determine the winners of two bronze medals.
Tali’s first fight was up against Serbia’s Mandic who eventually won the gold medal in this division.  She was eliminated 16-2 but was given another chance in the repecharge for a chance at bronze.  She was again eliminated by Mexican athlete who went on to win the Bronze medal. Talitiga is ranked 22nd in the world in the +73kg division.

8.  Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga (+80kg Men’s Taekwondo)

Kaino was very unfortunate with his first fight against Gabon athlete where Kaino was defeated.  His opponent had the advantage of being taller than Kaino which was evident with the results.  Like Tali, Kaino was given another chance by going into the repecharge for a go at bronze medal.  Again he was unsuccessful, but the experience gained by Kaino at the games was very much appreciated by the youngster.  He now turns his training and focus to Rio 2012. Kaino is currently ranked 16th in the world for the +87kg category out of 201 athletes in his weight division.