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Arne Falekaono Jensen made history by becoming the first and youngest Tongan athlete to compete in archery at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
His journey was full of challenges, including recovering from a serious car accident. “I had three months to get the minimum qualifying score, and I got it on the last day of qualifying,” Janssen recalled. “It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”
Jansen and his teammate Lusi Tatavu became the first Tongan shooters to compete in the MQS, making their Olympic debut an unforgettable milestone. Jansen, who wore a traditional Tongan tupenu during the competition, said proudly: “Wearing a tupenu at the Olympics and shooting is something I am really proud of.”
Now, as World Archery Oceania President, Janssen is focused on rebuilding archery in the Pacific. Despite missing out on the MQS at the Paris Olympics, he is determined to have Tonga represented at future Olympics. “We want to stay strong and be ready for the 2032 Olympics where we want to make a big impact,” he said.
His advice to Pacific athletes competing in the Olympics is: “Enjoy every second of your time at the Olympics.”
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