Historic Triumph: Alex Rose secures Sāmoa's first-ever World Athletics medal

In a world where dreams collide with dedication, and where every moment counts, one athlete has risen to leave an indelible mark on history.

This past Sunday, under the bright lights of the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, Alexander Melei "Alex" Rose not only showcased his incredible talent but also etched his name into the annals of sport as Sāmoa's first-ever medallist at the prestigious event.

With a powerful throw of 66.96 metres, Rose finished in third place in the Men's Discus, overcoming his personal barriers and inspiring the next generation of Pacific Island athletes.

Rose also became the first Pacific man to win a medal at the competition. He says that his groundbreaking achievement is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.

The gold medal was claimed by Sweden's Daniel Stahl, who threw 70.47m, while Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna secured the silver with a throw of 67.84m.

According to World Athletics, the discus competition was interrupted by heavy rain but resumed after a brief delay.

Photo/Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee

Matt Denny held the bronze medal position with a throw of 65.57m until Rose stepped up and surpassed the Australian with his fifth attempt, pushing Denny out of the podium standing.

Rose's final throw was groundbreaking, and after fouling his last attempt, the 33-year-old Sāmoan-American celebrated with Stahl, who made a powerful throw of his own, landing the discus beyond the 70-metre mark.

Rose described his achievement as a dream come true. “This is one of the greatest moments of my entire life, and it's been 20 years in the making.

Team Samoa at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where Alex Rose was the nation's flagbearer. Photo/Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee

“I was never the favourite. I did not throw 60 metres until I was out of college. I didn't make a final until I was 30 years old. I almost quit so many times. The last time I was here, I failed to make the final. I fell on my face and almost quit the sport.

“To come back here and do what I just did, there is no feeling like it. The young Pacific Island athletes never give up. I work a full-time job and took time off from my company to compete here.”

Although Rose was born in the United States, he holds dual citizenship with Sāmoa through his father, who emigrated to the US at 19.

Rose also competed for Central Michigan University and represented Sāmoa at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics. He also participated in the 2013 and 2015 World Athletics Championships but didn't make it to the finals in either event.

But he has had success at the Oceania Athletics Championships, winning eight gold medals and a silver in discus, shot put, and hammer throw from 2017 to 2021.

Watch Alex Rose in an interview with WoodTV8 during the Paris Olympics in 2024.

After finishing eighth in the final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Rose competed for Sāmoa in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, narrowly missing a medal with a fourth-place finish.

Rose set personal and national records in discus throwing over the years, including a remarkable throw of 70.39m in April 2023, which broke the Oceania Area Record.

At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, he became the first Pacific islander to reach the final round in Olympic track and field events.