Samoa and PNG Shine on final day of Weightlifting

Samoa’s FegaigaStowers and PNG’s Steven Kari stole the headlines on the last day of weightlifting at the Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini Games.

Stowers, who is 17 years old, set a new Commonwealth record in the women’s +90kg, lifting 108kg in the snatch, 131kg in the clean and jerk, and 239kg overall.

An emotional Stowers wiped away tears of joy as she climbed atop the podium to receive her three gold medals.

Luisa Peter of the Cook Islands claimed silver in the snatch and overall, while Nauru’s Charisma Amoe picked up silver in the clean and jerk.

In the men’s 94kg, Kari secured all three gold medals on offer, lifting 155kg in the snatch and 195kg in the clean and jerk.

Sixteen-year-old John Downes claimed Australia’s first medals of the Games in the same event, securing bronze in the snatch and overall, behind Samoa’s SiaosiLeuo who nabbed all three silver medals on offer. Angel San Nicolas of the Northern Marianas won bronze in the clean and jerk.

In the women’s 90kg, renowned Fijian weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana grabbed all three golds, sending the crowd crazy. Papua New Guinea’s Lorraine Harry claimed silver.

PNG ended the day with wide smiles on their faces after collecting a total of 18 medals in weightlifting (14 gold and 4 silver) and remain atop the Vanuatu 2017 medal tally.

Story by JanesaMoli:   Photo by Julie Tamata : van2017.com