Kiribati at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Kiribati at the
2016 Summer Olympics
Flag of Kiribati.svg
IOC code KIR
NOC Kiribati National Olympic Committee
Website www.oceaniasport.com/kiribati
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors3 in 2 sports
Flag bearer David Katoatau
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Kiribati competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21, 2016. This was the nation's fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Contents

The Kiribati team consisted of three athletes: track sprinters John Ruuka and Karitaake Tewaaki, and weightlifter David Katoatau, who reprised his role of leading the delegation for the third straight time as the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony. Kiribati has yet to win its first Olympic medal.

Background

Kiribati had interest in Olympic participation in the 1980s, and the country later formed their National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 2002, which was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2003. [1] : 311  Kiribati's first Games was in 2004. [2] The 2016 Olympics were Kiribati's fourth Games. In past Games, I-Kiribati have participated in weightlifting and athletics. [3]

As of these Olympics, Kiribati has not won an Olympic medal. [3] David Katoatau reprised his role as Kiribati's opening ceremonies flag bearer for the third consecutive Olympics. [4] He received media attention due to the effort he put into the task. [5] Kiribati did not have a closing ceremony flag bearer, and a volunteer performed the task. [6]

Athletics

Kiribati received universality slots from IAAF to send two athletes (one male and one female) to the Olympics. Since they qualified via universality slots, both athletes competed in the preliminary heats. [7] [8] Both athletes said they did not get enough practice time using blocks. They also did not get to practice much, since the main stadium in the capital city—Bairiki Stadium—is made of sand and often flooded. [8]

Eighteen year old Karitaake Tewaaki competed in the 100 meter dash. [9] This was her first Olympic Games. [10] She finished eighth out of eight competitors in her heat, with a time of 14.70. She was eliminated from competition and did not advance to the next round. [11]

John Ruuka turned 21 during the Olympics, which were his first. [9] [12] He ran the 100 meter dash in 11.65 seconds, 0.26 seconds away from the personal best he set the month prior. [13] He finished sixth of seven in his heat, beating Hermenegildo Leite of Angola. [14]

Key
Track & road events
AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal
TimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
John Ruuka Men's 100 m 11.656Did not advance
Karitaake Tewaaki Women's 100 m 14.708Did not advance

Weightlifting

Kiribati qualified one male weightlifter for the Rio Olympics by virtue of a top five national finish at the 2016 Oceania Championships. [15] [16] The 2016 Games were Katoatau's third consecutive Olympics. [17] He lived and trained for the Olympics at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in Nouméa, New Caledonia. [18]

Katoatau, winner at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, lifted 145 kg in the snatch and 204 kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 349 kg. He placed 14th overall out of the 14 lifters that completed the event (three others did not finish). [19]

Katoatau made headlines when he danced after his lifts. He said he used dancing to draw attention to climate change. Kiribati is an island nation, at-risk to rising sea levels. [20] A couple of years before the Olympics he had written an open letter, with the help of his coach, to ask for help. In the letter, Katoatau said, "I beg the countries of the world to see what is happening to Kiribati. The simple truth is that we do not have the resources to save ourselves. We will be the first to go." [21]

AthleteEventSnatchClean & JerkTotalRank
ResultRankResultRank
David Katoatau Men's −105 kg 145172041234914

Related Research Articles

Kiribati at the 2004 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Kiribati competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from August 13–29, 2004. The country sent three representatives to the Games: two in athletics and one in weightlifting. As of 2012, Meamea Thomas has the best finish of any I-Kiribati athlete in Olympic history. Kiribati did not win medals at these Games.

Kiribati at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Kiribati competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the second time at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, following their debut appearance in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The country had intended to send a total of three athletes to the Games, competing in two sports: athletics and weightlifting. Female sprinter Kaitinano Mwemweata had to withdraw due to illness after contracting tuberculosis.

David Katoatau is an I-Kiribati weightlifter.

Tuvalu at the Olympics Sporting event delegation

Tuvalu participates in the Olympic Games in the Summer Olympics. They have yet to compete at the Winter Olympics.

Kiribati at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

The Oceanic island nation of Kiribati competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, held from July 27 – August 12, 2012. This was the nation's third appearance at the Olympics.

Tuvalu at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Tuvalu competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The country's participation at London marked its second appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The delegation consisted of three competitors: two short-distance runners, Tavevele Noa and Asenate Manoa, and one weightlifter, Tuau Lapua Lapua. All three qualified for the games through wildcard places because they did not meet the qualification standards. Lapua was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony while Manoa carried it at the closing ceremony. Noa and Manoa failed to advance beyond the preliminary rounds of their events although the latter established a new national record for the women's 100 metres, while Lapua placed 12th in the men's featherweight weightlifting competition.

El Salvador at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

El Salvador competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Summer Olympics, although it first competed in 1968.

Eritrea at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Eritrea competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. It was the nation's fifth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Philippines at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

The Philippines competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Since the nation's official debut in 1924, Filipino athletes had appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, but did not attend the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the nation's partial support for the US-led boycott.

Indonesia at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Indonesia competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's fifteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Syria at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Syria competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. It was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1948.

Cameroon at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Cameroon competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. It was the nation's fourteenth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Ghana at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Ghana competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's fourteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics, having taken part in all but three editions since its debut at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Ghana did not attend the 1976 Olympics because of the African boycott and did not attend the 1980 Olympics because of the United States boycott.

Turkmenistan at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Turkmenistan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics in the post-Soviet era.

Nauru at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Nauru competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The country's participation in Brazil was its sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Nauru's delegation included two participants: Ovini Uera, a judoka in the men's middleweight judo category; and Elson Brechtefeld in the men's 56 kg weightlifting competition. Uera qualified as Nauru's top-ranked judoka, in the IJF World Ranking List through a quota slot from the Oceania Judo Union. Brechtefeld qualified by grant from the International Weightlifting Federation of an unused quota place. Uera was eliminated by Varlam Liparteliani in the round of 16 and Brechtefeld finished 15th in his event.

East Timor at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste and officially as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

American Samoa at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

American Samoa competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eighth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Solomon Islands at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

The Solomon Islands competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's ninth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics. The delegation included two track and field athletes – Rosefelo Siosi and Sharon Firisua – as well as weightlifter Jenly Tegu Wini. Wini was a returning competitor from the 2012 London Olympics and also led the delegation in those Games. The Solomon Islands, however, has yet to win its first Olympic medal.

Marshall Islands at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

The Marshall Islands competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's third consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Kiribati at the 2020 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Kiribati competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, it was postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was Kiribati's fifth appearance at the Olympics, since its debut in 2004.

References

  1. ↑ Grasso, John; Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (May 14, 2015). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Rowman & Littlefield.
  2. ↑ Bingham, Eugene (July 31, 2004). "First-time Olympians beat odds". NZ Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Kiribati". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony". International Olympic Committee . Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ Demianyk, Graeme (August 8, 2016). "Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony Was Won By The Flag Carrier Of Kiribati, David Katoatau". The Huffington Post . Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony - Flag Bearers" (PDF). Olympic.org. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  7. ↑ "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "The Rio adventure 2016". Kiribati Athletics Association. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Kiribati Brings the Carnival to Rio at Olympic Opening Ceremony". Oceania Sport Information Centre. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Karitaake Tewaaki at the Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Athletics at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games: Women's 100 metres Preliminary Round". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "John Ruuka at the Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  13. ↑ McAlpine, Alice Toomer. "John Ruka runs the 100m at Rio Olympics whilst celebrating his second birthday of the year". Kiribati Tungaru Association. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Athletics at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Preliminary Round". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Oceania event concluded in Fiji". International Weightlifting Federation. May 28, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ Dreaver, Barbara (May 28, 2016). "Kiribati weightlifter dances with joy after reaching Olympic qualification mark". Television New Zealand . Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  17. ↑ "David Katoatau". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Rio 2016: Kiribati weightlifter dances to highlight climate change". The Guardian. Reuters. August 15, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Weightlifting at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games: Men's Heavyweight". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  20. ↑ Samuelson, Kate (August 16, 2016). "This Olympic Weightlifter Danced Off Stage to Raise Awareness of Climate Change". Time. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  21. ↑ Friedman, Uri (August 17, 2016). "The Saddest Olympic Celebration". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.