Sports

10 Athletes Depart Samoa Locked and Ready for the Australian Weightlifting Nationals this Weekend

November 14, 2025

152

A total of 10 lifters from Samoa have departed to participate in the Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) National Senior and Junior Championships in Hawthorn, Victoria from 14-16 November 2025.

Speaking to Samoa Global News from Faleolo International Airport, President of the nbs Samoa Weightlifting Federation and Prea of SASNOC Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork said they have their eyes set on record-breaking gold medals this weekend with Oceania and Commonwealth records up for grabs for Team Samoa.

“This will be the last competition for 2025 and we are hope to use this tournament to secure more personal bests and set International records..”

“It is also a perfect opportunity for our lifters to learn from well-known lifters from other countries and also to connect with them,” adds Tuaopepe.

The Australian Nationals brings together the best lifters from across all States of Australia to compete for the national championship title.

Samoa will participate as a guest and compete amongst senior and junior elite athletes of Australia who are all vying for the national championship titles.

Samoa’s lifters get to test their standards up against the best of the best from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, and Victoria as this year’s hosts.

Tuaopepe says all participants were required to complete a Sport Integrity Australia Anti-Doping Fundamentals Course in order to participate, thus lifting Samoa’s preparations and exposure to international standards of competition preps.

Team Samoa travelling to participate in the Victoria event include:

**Samoa’s leading provider of ICT Solutions!**

Women’s Team

· Anoni Faumui 64kg

· Sefulu Seuao 69kg

· Seine Stowers 77kg

· Iuniarra Sipaia 86+kg

Men’s Team

· Falevaa Tafi 65kg

· Faitasia Seuao 79kg

· John Tafi 71kg

· Emmanuel Ulimasao 94kg

· Jack Opeloge 110kg and

· Sanele Mao 110+kg

Head Coach: Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork.

Assistant Coach: Toafitu Perive

Manager: Ola Salimu lui

Tuaopepe said the team will return next week Monday to greet the more than 40 lifters from around the world who will be ascending upon Samoa for elite training at the Samoa-hosted Oceania Weightlifting Institute and Academy.

n a historical achievement by Tuaopepe at the helm of the SWF, Samoa is the host nation for the 2026 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup, to be held from 23 April to 2 May 2026.

The World Cup is expected to draw over 500 elite athletes, not counting coaching staff and supporters from 70 countries around the globe – putting Samoa on the world stage as a premier destination for hosting international sporting events.