Gerard Darrien Garabwan (10 March 1971) is a former weightlifter who competed for Nauru at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. [1]
He was a plumber [2] when he was picked to represent his nation at the Olympics, he had already competed at the 1995 World Cup in China and finished 33rd. [3] After he finished 24th at the Olympics he went on to finish 8th at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. [4]
The Pacific island nation Nauru first competed at the Summer Olympic Games in the 1996 games in Atlanta. It is the least populated nation in the 206-member International Olympic Committee. The nation is mainly known for its weightlifting tradition and all seven athletes that had competed for Nauru at the Olympics before 2012 were weightlifters.
Nauru competed in the Olympic Games for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States from 19 July to 4 August 1996. The delegation consisted of three weightlifters; Quincy Detenamo, Gerard Garabwan, and Marcus Stephen. Their best performances were by Detenamo, who came 20th in the men's 76 kg category and Garabwan who finished 24th in the men's 91 kg event. Stephen failed to finish his event, but would later become President of the Republic.
Loa Dika Toua is a Papua New Guinean Olympian weightlifter. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Women's −49 kg.
Nauru competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, that were celebrated in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Nauru was represented by the Nauru Olympic Committee, and was the only nation out of 204 participating nations and territories that sent only a single athlete, and was one of 117 that won no medals at the Games. The sole athlete to represent the nation was Itte Detenamo, who participated in the weightlifting, and was the flag bearer in both the opening and closing ceremonies. This was the same number of athletes as at the 1996 Olympics, when Marcus Stephen represented the country in the same sport, but was a decrease from the nation's last appearance at the Games when three athletes were sent to Athens. Nauru earned a berth for the weightlifting event in the Oceania and South Pacific Olympic Weightlifting Championships in 2008 and a chance to send participants in swimming and athletics events, but chose to send only a weightlifter. Itte Detenamo competed in the Group B of heavyweight class, fifteenth and last event of the weightlifting. He did not earn a medal, but finished with a personal best.
Tuvalu competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, from 8 to 24 August 2008. This was the nation's first ever appearance in an Olympic Game. The delegation included two track and field athletes and one weightlifter. Okilani Tinilau and Asenate Manoa participated in athletics while Logona Esau participated in the weightlifting sport. Both track and field athletes achieved national records. Logona Esau led the Tuvaluan squad as the nation's flag bearer in the parade of nations.
Damon Joseph Kelly is an Australian weightlifter who competed at the 2008 Olympic Games finishing ninth. Damon recorded lifts of 165 kg in the Snatch and 221 kg in the Clean and Jerk with a total of 386 kg. He was the biggest member of the Australian Olympic Team and was Australia's only male weightlifter at the Games, having secured the sole position with a personal best lift on his final attempt at the Olympic Nomination Trials.
Donald Carthew Oliver was a New Zealand weightlifter and fitness centre founder. He represented his country at three Olympic Games, and won two Commonwealth medals, including gold in 1966 in Kingston.
Zoe Smith is an English weightlifter. In October 2010 she won a bronze medal in the women's 58kg division at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, her first senior international competition, to become the first English woman to win a Commonwealth Games weightlifting medal. Smith competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and finished 12th in the Women's 58kg division. After missing the 2016 Summer Olympics following an injury, she finished eighth in the 59kg at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The African island country of Seychelles competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's eighth appearance at the Olympics, except the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul because of its partial support to the North Korean boycott.
Seen Lee is an Australian weightlifter. She won a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and a silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She represented Australia in weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Manueli Tulo is a Fijian weightlifter who competed for Fiji at the 2012 Summer Olympics and at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Both times he competed in the Men's 56kg event, finishing 13th both times. His wife Maria Liku also represented Fiji in weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics, while his younger sister, Seruwaia Malani, competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Jenly Tegu Wini is Solomon Islander weightlifter. She competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics at the women's 58 kg category. She was flagbearer of Solomon Islands sports team in the opening ceremony. In the event, Wini finished in 17th.
Sam Nunuke Pera is a retired Cook Islands weightlifter. He represented the Cook Islands in three editions of the Olympic Games, and has been named the nation's sportsman of the year five times. Pera is also the father of Sam Pera, Jr., who later competed in the same weightlifting division at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Marie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa, commonly known as Roilya Ranaivosoa, is a Mauritian weightlifter of Malagasy descent, competing in the 48 kg category and representing Mauritius at international competitions.
Morea Baru is a Papua New Guinean Olympic weightlifter. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He finished in 6th place. He competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Men's −61 kg.
Boady Santavy is a Canadian weightlifter from Sarnia, Ontario.
Tali Darsigny is a Canadian weightlifter.
Talha Talib is a Pakistani weightlifter from Gujranwala. He is the Pakistani national champion in the 62 kg category. He set a new record at the games in snatch as he lifted 132 kg in the third attempt with 127 kg and 130 kg in the first two attempts, respectively. He was also a gold medalist at the 2016 Commonwealth Youth Weightlifting Championships in Penang. He lifted 258 kg to clinch the gold. He is currently the top No. 1 ranked weightlifter of Pakistan.
Brandon Dean Wakeling is an Australian weightlifter. He won the gold medal in the men's 73 kg event at the 2019 Pacific Games held in Apia, Samoa. He represented Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He also represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022.
Ruben Katoatau is a Kiribati weightlifter.