Road to Paris: Cook Islands, Sāmoa, Tonga

Paris 2024, which kicks off next week, promises an unforgettable experience for all competitors and spectators including those from the Pacific.

The Olympics gives Team Pacific a chance to move beyond their own struggles while embracing a new vision for the world’s biggest sporting event.

Against the majestic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, we will preview, schedule, and bring you the stars to watch from the Pacific Island nations.

Cook Islands

Three athletes will represent the Cook Islands. It is the country’s 10th consecutive appearance at the Games. The Cooks have not won a medal at the Olympics but this year, their three young stars will look to change that and create history.

Athlete to watch: Lanihei Connolly is competing in the women’s 100m breaststroke on 28 July at the Paris La Defense Arena.

Connolly during the 2023 Pacific Games. Photo/Cook Islands News.

This will be the 19-year-old’s first appearance at the Olympics, qualifying after a successful Pacific Games’ performance in the Solomon Islands last year. Connolly won a gold and silver medal.

The youngster also won silver at this year's Oceania Championships in the 100m breaststroke, becoming the first female swimmer from the Cooks to clinch a top 10 finish at a swimming competition in Australia.

In Paris, Connolly will come against the best in the world.

She is determined to do well in her first outing, telling the Cook Islands News that heading to the Olympics was a major goal for her.

Team Cook Islands: Alex Beddoes (Men’s 800m track and field) and Wesley Roberts (Men’s 100m freestyle swimming)

Sāmoa

Paris 2024 will be Sāmoa’s 11th consecutive appearance at the Games, with 24 athletes carrying the nation’s hopes in Paris.

A total of 91 athletes have represented Sāmoa at the Olympics, and this year will be the biggest contingent to compete from the island nation.

A bronze medal in 2008 by female weightlifter Ele Opeloge is the only Olympic glory Sāmoa has celebrated.

This year’s 24 athletes carrying Sāmoa’s hopes will be eager to end the country’s 16-year medal drought.

Athlete to watch: Tupuola Seua’i Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali competing in the men’s heavyweight boxing competition.

The Sāmoan champion holds a significant reputation in Oceania as one of most talented fighters, having won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, and two gold medals at the Pacific Games.

Tupuola told PMN News he was looking forward to the atmosphere at the Olympics, “especially, it’s probably the biggest thing to me, that’s what hypes me up the most is when I see the crowd.

“Even if they’re booing me, I liked when they booed me in England at the Commonwealth Games (2022). I don’t mind if they boo me or cheer for me.”

This is the second time Tupuola is representing Sāmoa at the Olympics, having debuted in Tokyo in 2020.

Team Sāmoa: Alex Rose (men’s discuss throw), William Tai Tin (men’s 73kg judo), Eroni Leilua (men’s ICLA 7 sailing), Johann Strickland (men’s 100m freestyle), Kaiya Brown (women’s 50m freestyle), Don Opeloge (men’s 102kg weightlifting), Iuniarra Sipaia (women’s 81kg weightlifting), Samoa men’s sevens rugby, Gaku Akazawa (men’s 65kg wrestling).

Tonga

Tonga has competed in every edition of the Olympic, and this year they are sending three athletes to Paris.

Tonga’s only medal was from boxer Paea Wolfgramm who won silver in the men’s super heavyweight division.

Athlete to watch: Feofaaki Epenisa hopes to return the island to Olympic glory when she takes on the best in the ring in the women’s 60kg boxing division.

Tongan boxer Fei'ofa'aki Epenisa. Photo/Tonga Boxing.

She is the first Tongan female boxer to compete at the Games.

The 28-year-old told American media that the feat was part of her “destiny”.

“It was just so surreal because, initially, I thought that my journey had come to an end.

“Little did I know, destiny had another path for me. When I found out, I was in disbelief and just excited. Overwhelmed.”

She said it was a huge honour to inspire other young Pacific kids around the world, who may look to her for inspiration.

“Some young kid from Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands could be watching me. And, you know what, whether it’s boxing or something else they want to pursue and put their heart into, I hope they see me, and they want to go after their dreams and their goals.”

Epenisa created a TikTok page ahead of the Olympics, so supporters can follow her journey to Paris as the first ever female Tongan boxer.

Team Tonga: Alan Uhi (men’s 100m backstroke, Noelani Day (women’s 50m freestyle).