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Don Opeloge competing in the New Zealand National Championships at Mount Maunganui
photo: Kurt Hay
Samoan weightlifting star Don Opelogie will be the flag bearer for Samoa at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Savary Newspaper Opeloge, 25, has reportedly been selected by the Samoa Sports Association and the National Olympic Committee to be the flag bearer for Samoa next week.
The weightlifter is looking forward to the competition and participating in the Olympics, according to government newspapers.
“I’m not worried about anything right now, I’m fully prepared,” he reportedly said.
“Training and everything else has been good.”
Opelog, who hails from Vaola and Tanugamanono villages, thanked his family, friends and everyone for supporting his team.
“I will do my best for Samoa.”
Opelochi has broken records at competitions over the past five years, including breaking the Oceania and Pacific Games record in the men’s 102kg category at last year’s Pacific Games in Honiara.
Opeloch won the gold medal in the men’s 102kg category with a snatch score of 165kg, a clean and jerk score of 214kg, and a total score of 379kg, setting a new record.
He finished in the top 10 at this year’s world championships, thus qualifying for the Paris tournament.
Opeloge and female weightlifter Yuniala Sipaya Simanu are French Samoan weightlifters.
The two were originally scheduled to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but were affected by the epidemic.
Simanu said she was grateful to God for giving her this opportunity.
She said the competition was tough for both but her goal was to be in the top ten.
The weightlifter also expressed gratitude for all the support given to them.
“I would like to thank the government and sponsors, our Samoan Weightlifting Federation and our family and friends for their prayers.”
The Samoan government held an official ceremony on Tuesday to send off the Samoan team to France.
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