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Pago Pago, American Samoa— Local bodybuilder Frank Asi Tuisalega has made it to the elite ranks of the sport after a strong performance at the recent 2024 International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) South Pacific Championships in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
Tuisalega, who hails from Sogi, Leon, Solo Solo and Faiaaai, Samoa, was the only competitor to represent American Samoa at the annual regional event and won first place overall in men’s physique, earning his IFBB Pro Card, a coveted achievement for all aspiring bodybuilders.
According to the IFBB website, “Obtaining an IFBB Pro Card means you are one of the elite. At this point, you have made it and have the opportunity to become a true professional bodybuilder and earn a substantial income through competitions and wins.”
“The cost of a pro card is $200, but it only allows you to compete as a pro until the end of the year. Yes, $200 per year. That means if you compete as a pro every year for the next five years, the cost is $1,000.”
This year’s IFBB South Pacific Championships was hosted by the IFBB Tonga Bodybuilding Federation. Six countries were originally scheduled to participate, but in addition to American Samoa, New Zealand and the host country, three other countries withdrew at the last minute.
According to Sarah McMoore, vice president and chief judge of the American Samoa Bodybuilding Federation of Sauia IFBB, Frank faced stiff competition but his excellent conditioning and eye-catching poses ensured he took first place.
McMoore revealed that the victory was especially sweet for Frank Assi Tuisalega because he narrowly lost and finished second at the IFBB Australian Championships held in Sydney, Australia in April this year.
“I’m happy for Frank because his hard work and dedication have paid off and he deserves to be in the spotlight,” said McMoore. “More importantly, with his pro card, he can now compete as a professional bodybuilder and hopefully win some prize money.”
In an exclusive interview, the 26-year-old professional bodybuilder told Samoa News that his priority right now is to work on improving his physique and taking his body to the next level in preparation for the next international competition next year.
An environmental specialist with the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), he noted that his ability to participate in any international competitions depends on the number of days he has off during the year.
Tuisalega expressed his gratitude for the generous sponsorship and guidance of Sauia IFBB American Samoa Bodybuilding Federation President Leonē Peter Reid III, who funded his travel, accommodation and expenses to compete in the Australasian Championships in Australia and the recent South Pacific Championships in Tonga.
“I am competing alone, but I have the best team behind me,” he said gratefully. “Thank you to Chairman Leone Peter Reed III and Vice Chairman Sarah McMoore for choosing me to represent American Samoa and sponsoring this trip.”
“Thank you to my parents and family, my coaches, my Sauia Gym aiga, my ASEPA family and everyone for your constant encouragement and support. It means everything to me. Your encouragement makes me feel that I can accomplish anything.
“Thank you so much to the Tonga IFBB Bodybuilding Federation for hosting this event and I wish my fellow Tongan brothers who competed with me all the best in their future endeavors. Ofa atu.”
The International Federation of Fitness and Bodybuilding (IFBB) also governs the sport of weightlifting.
Founded in Canada in 1946, the organization has 204 member countries and is one of the largest and most active international sports federations in the world.
The IFBB organizes more than 8,000 local, national, regional, continental and world championships each year.
Samoa IFBB ASBBF President Leonē Peter Reid III, President of the American Samoa Weightlifting Association, said a powerlifting team consisting of both men and women will travel to Apia, Samoa on July 20 to compete in the Samoa National Weightlifting Championships.
The men’s team includes Justin Pedro and John Ioane, while Nolita Motu, Lesmarie Ioane and Marcel McMoore-Collins will compete in the women’s division.
They are both experienced weightlifters, having won medals at the 17th Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands last November.
The upcoming national championships in Samoa will be the third clash for some weightlifters since the 2023 Pacific Games, such as Justin Pedro of American Samoa, who won the silver medal, while the gold medal was won by Oliva Kirisome of Solomon Islands Samoa.
However, when Pedro and Kirisome met for the second time at the fifth annual Si’i Mamafa tournament held at the Sauia Sports Stadium in April this year, Pedro defeated Kirisome in a landslide victory, completely turning the tables.
Over the next two weeks, both lifters will continue competing for a third time in Samoa.
Meanwhile, the next IFBB-sanctioned event on the international calendar is the IFBB World Men’s Bodybuilding Championships and Annual Congress, scheduled for September 23-28 in Tehran, Iran.
The Oceania Regional Weightlifting and Bench Press Championships will then be held in Nauru from October 7 to 14, with the final event being the Polybeast event hosted by the local federation at Lion Park in Tafuna.
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