Wrestling coach Gaku Akazawa will be flying to New Zealand with three athletes under his care to compete in a wrestling tournament.

Willie Alofipo, Taitaifono Tamaiti, and Mac Papalii are all eager to represent Samoa on the mats after preparing for the past several months.

Willie Alofipo recently competed in the Oceania Senior Wrestling Championships in Australia where he alongside his nephew took gold in their respective Greco-Roman style. The goal is that the next few tournaments and competitions will prepare Gaku and his team for the Olympic Games next year.

“The next Olympic qualifier will be in March next year and in May where the top two will go to the Olympics,” he said.

“I am looking forward to it and we need to be number one or two in Oceania which is in January and then we qualify for Africa and we will have to try hard.” 

The team is aiming for the African-Oceania Qualifying Tournament in March and four other qualifier tournaments in May. This is where their skills will be truly tested against some of the world’s greatest and professional Olympic wrestlers who are all vying for one of the 288 Olympic spots.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic games 288 athletes will compete: 192 men and 96 women. The Paris 2024 wrestling competition will take place between the 5^th to the 11^th of August at the Champ de Mars Arena which will also be the same venue as the Judo competition.

There are two styles of wrestling, Greco-Roman and Freestyle, and a total of 18 events will be held at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

So far, only two weightlifters from Samoa have qualified for the Olympic Games. The rugby sevens team will have a chance at the Oceania Sevens in November. Other sports that can qualify for Samoa are wrestling, judo and boxing.