11 July 2019, Pacific Games Apia Samoa. Thirty one year old Vaipava Nevo Ioane of Leulumoega won 5 Gold medals in total for the Oceania, Commonwealth Championships and the Pacific Games today.
For the Pacific Games Ioane secured 3 Gold medals in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk as well as the Overall total in the 67kg Senior Men division.
He also won a Gold medal in the Oceania and the 5th Gold medal for the Commonwealth Championships.
Ioane is no stranger to the sport.
His long list of achievements includes a Gold medal in the 2007 South Pacific Games, Gold medal in the Oceania Championship in 2012, a Gold medal in the Oceania in 2013, bronze medal in Commonwealth Games in 2014, Gold in the 2015 Pacific Games, a Gold medal in the Olympic Qualifications, Gold for the Commonwealth Games in 2017, Gold medal in the Oceania in 2017 and a silver medal medal in the Arafura Games this year!
Ioane told Samoa Global News that his Dad, who is currently in American Samoa, was his biggest motivation growing up.
“He instilled in me a strong work ethic from a very young age that helped make me the man that I am today,” he said.
“This is for him and also for Samoa my country and I am very grateful to God for the strength he has given me.”
The father of a 1 year old boy said he dedicates his achievements to his son as well as his Coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork.
“He always pushes us to be better at what we do,” said Ioane.
“The non stop trainings have paid off and I just want to say a big thank you to Samoa, “faafetai mo le tapuaiga lenei ua i’u ai ma le manuia taumafaiga.”
Deidre Fanene
