Two Samoan boxers, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali and Marion Faustino Ah Tong are currently in Sydney, Australia training for the Tokyo Olympics in July, and are very optimistic about their journey.

Speaking to Samoa Observer, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali said that they are in week one of their training camp in Sydney and working hard. 

"We're very excited and looking forward to fighting at the games. We are in week 1 of training camp here in Sydney, and our aim is to peak right on time, at the games," he said.

"It is hard training and will be the most difficult we've both trained, but it's the Olympics so we give it everything we have in training so there are no excuses in the ring. 

"Tino has been blessed to be very active in training and competition over in New Zealand before he came over here to Sydney to start our game preparation. I have always trained nonstop, for a whole year, so that has prepared both of us for this next phase of our preparations, which will help us peak right at the games," he added. 

As a result of the global pandemic, the pair have not been able to compete in any international tournaments prior to the Olympics. Despite the lack of international competition time for a year, both Plodzicki-Faoagali and Ah Tong are aiming to bring home Olympic gold. 

"Obviously for the last year and half it has been Covid-19, a lot of tournaments were cancelled and the travel ban stopped us from competing at higher level tournaments that we wanted to participate in. 

"However, like everyone else in the world we had to make do and adjust our training accordingly. Our goals like any athlete are to win gold, nothing else! No one goes just to participate, we are all elite athletes and that is our primary goal is to fight every fight like it's a final fight!"

Mr Plodzicki-Faoagali and Mr Ah Tong will be flying to Tokyo in early July, they are still looking for a few sponsors, but they are grateful for the people who have responded to their pleas in making their trip to Tokyo possible. 

"We are still looking for more sponsors, although we have some funds allocated to us by S.A.S.N.O.C. [Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee] and my own sponsors Blends Barbershop Campbelltown, as well as our families. We still need a little help financially with our 12-week camp here in Sydney," he said. 

"We would like to thank all our families, the Plodzicki-Faoagali and the Ah Tong families for all your support, our sponsors Blends Barbershop Campbelltown, Command Fitness Ingleburn, Against the Grain HQ, and Samoan boxing fans who follow our journey and send messages of encouragement as well as our club Marist and boxing federation SBF for their support and our Olympic body S.A.S.N.O.C. for all your help," he added.

"Also to our camp coaches here in Sydney, Steven Faoagali and assistant trainer Jesmario Ah Tong."