From CrossFit to Commonwealth Games: Sāmoan teen rises in NZ weightlifting scene

At just 16, Ella Rose Williams-Simanu is lifting more than weights. She’s lifting her dreams to the international stage.

The Hamilton teenager has been selected by Weightlifting New Zealand to compete abroad, stepping closer to qualifying for the Youth World Championships in Colombia and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year.

Speaking with Tuilagi William Leolahi on Pacific Huddle, Williams-Simanu credits her competitive family environment for shaping her journey.

“Growing up, I’ve seen my uncles playing rugby, my aunties play netball, and my sister does basketball, netball, and volleyball,” she says. “Everyone’s competitive, and it’s helped me get to where I am now.”

She discovered her passion for lifting at 13, joining early morning CrossFit sessions with her mother. Within a year, she placed third in the New Zealand Junior Weightlifting Championships (NZJWC).

In 2024, she claimed first place at her debut NZJWC, prompting her high school, Hamilton Girls, to celebrate her achievement as a ‘golden lift’.

Ella Williams-Simanu in competition-mode. Photo/Givealittle

“From first-timer to champion - congratulations, Ella, on this incredible achievement. Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off,” the school posted on social media.

November 2025 marked another milestone. Competing in the F86 category at the Secondary Schools Weightlifting Championships, Williams-Simanu lifted a total of 162kg to secure the win.

She succeeded in all three snatch attempts, progressing from 65kg to 72kg, five kilograms ahead of her nearest competitor.

Williams-Simanu says two failed attempts at the clean and jerk tested her confidence, but she pushed through to lift a personal best of 90kg.

“If I failed the third one, I wouldn’t have qualified for where I am now. It was a big mental challenge, something I’d never experienced before,” she tells Tuilagi.

Williams-Simanu also competed at the Oceania Junior and Youth Championships in Melbourne, lifting a 151kg total in the youth 77kg-plus category.

Looking ahead

Williams-Simanu draws strength from her Sāmoan heritage and is looking forward to competing in Sāmoa at the Oceania Championships in April.

“Being back home and feeling that support is unreal,” she says. “Growing up, my Nana and my parents always spoke to us about culture. Representing New Zealand is a big privilege, but being Sāmoan when I compete overseas makes it really special.”

Listen to Ella Williams-Simanu's full interview below.

Her weightlifting journey is largely self-funded, and Williams-Simanu uses social media to connect with supporters and potential sponsors.

She encourages other young athletes to embrace new challenges. “Just give it a go. There’s nothing to lose. If you think you can’t do it, you can. Nothing is impossible,” she says.