A Samoan man and his nephew from the village of Saleaula in Savai'i have both won gold medals in wrestling at the 2023 Oceania Senior Wrestling Championships.

Willie Alofipo, who claimed gold in the Greco-Roman style category to record Samoa's second gold medal in the sport, has credited God for his success. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Wednesday, the 26-year-old from the village of Saleaula said he was humbled and proud of their achievements. 

Alofipo and his 16-year-old nephew Joshua Alofipo both represented Samoa in the Oceania Championships in Canberra, Australia. 

Young Alofipo also won gold for Samoa in the men's 71kg division on day 1 of the championships. 

Speaking to this newspaper from Canberra, Australia, the senior Alofipo also acknowledged God for their success, which for him meant a lot of sacrifices as he had to transition from a rugby player to a wrestler.

"I honestly believe that we would not have made it this far and come out victorious if it weren't for Him," Alofipo said. "We have worked hard in the last couple of months preparing for this championship, both mentally and physically. 

"But I know that if it weren't for him, we would not have achieved great results."

Despite being relatively new to the "unpopular sport" of wrestling, Alofipo said he is proud of the work they have put in as well as the dedication of his coach Gaku Akazawa to the cause. 

"There's not much to say other than the fact that we are happy and proud to have this opportunity to represent our country in this sport. We are all aware that unlike rugby and other games, wrestling is not quite popular in Samoa. It is a different game and it requires a lot of work, individually. 

"But it does take a lot of collective effort and working together with those who are passionate about the sports and they are the ones that can push you to do your best.

"Being a rugby player is very different from being a wrestler. One obvious reason is that in rugby, you have other players to support you and if you make a mistake, other teammates can cover or step in to make up for your shortcomings.

"However, in wrestling, you are on your own. You have to rely on your strength and mentally you need to focus on executing your strategies and your strength against your opponent.

"But both sports are quite physical and I think being a rugby player really helped me with the transition to becoming a wrestler. I am just very humbled to have had this opportunity to represent my country and people and put Samoa's name on the map."

Having his nephew by his side in this championship when making his international debut is also another milestone for Alofipo. 

"I can't help but feel proud to share this journey with my nephew who has worked so hard to be where he is today. It's such a blessing to witness how dedicated he is to the sport and how committed he is to training and winning a gold medal for Samoa. 

"It also motivates me and inspires me to continue working hard because I have to set an example and be a role model for my young nephew."

He said having his mother and his sister (Joshua's mother) in Australia to watch their competition also gave them the encouragement they needed before their games. 

"We dedicate these medals to God first and foremost. We would not have made it this far if it weren't for his guidance, support, and love. 

"Also to our country and people back home, we are honoured to represent Samoa and we will continue to do our best to put our country on the map in this sport. 

"I will also not forget those who have been there pushing us right from the start; those who believed in us and continue to encourage us every day. Our coach and management, really are the ones that should get the acknowledgment for all their hard work, dedication, and commitment."

Senior Alofipo competed in the 97kg men's division category in the Senior, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman Style categories at the Oceania Championships. 

Last year he made his international debut at the Commonwealth Games in England, where he secured an impressive 5th place in the freestyle 97kg category.

His nephew Joshua is competing in the Under 17 and Under 20 divisions in both the Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles categories. 

Joshua's passion for wrestling compelled him to undertake two years of rigorous training, refining his techniques and skills. Although this will be his first-ever competition, his coach believes that his consistent and focused training regime will give him a fighting chance at the Championships. Coming from the same village as his uncle, Joshua draws inspiration from his uncle's achievements and is determined to leave his mark in the sport.