Power and passion in Samoa

Sunday, 20 July 2008

I met a true champion in Samoa. Ele Opelonge – a 23 year old that will carry the weight of the nation on her very strong shoulders at the Beijing Olympics.

Ele is a weight lifter. She only took up the sport three years ago and is now ranked 4^th in the world in her division – superweight. That’s an incredible achievement that would usually take twice as long to reach.

I watched her training one morning and each time she lifted the bar, I held my breath. For two hours she did this, sitting between each one, staring ahead with intense focus as her older brother Niusila – also a weightlifting champion – adjusted the weights and her coach Gerry Wallwork spoke steadily to her in Samoan.

It’s family support that Ele credits most for her success and her coach agrees. In this part of the world families rely on their children to work and contribute income. It’s a big factor that prevents a lot of potential stars like Ele from pursing their sporting goals. Ele’s parents are an exception. Supporting and encouraging , not just Ele, but her brother and her 15 year old little sister Mary, who has also taken up the sport. To them their children’s talent is a true blessing from God.

The weights increased. She was fearless. I was exhausted by the end just from watching. “Oh, that was just a light session,” she said. “This afternoon is the hard one.” Twice a day, six days a week she does this.

I went with her on a visit to the Robert Louis Stevenson Primary School in Samoa. She was there to promote an upcoming Fun Run to raise money to send the Samoan Olympic team to Beijing. The entire school cheered and put their hands up to take part.

That’s the thing about this country. The people really throw themselves behind their sports and their sports stars. When I came here for the South Pacific Games last year, I met many Samoans who were competing in sports they took up for the first time just so they could “Live the Dream”, and represent their country. It was a call that was made and led from the top. The country’s Prime Minister took up archery just months before the games and won a silver medal. Talk about inspiration!

Hanging out with Ele and talking to locals about her, I could see the power and the passion she instils in the people of Samoa. But Ele made sure to point out that it works both ways, that her country and its people also instil the power and the passion in her.

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