| Sport | Weightlifting |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | TWF |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Affiliation | International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) |
| Regional affiliation | Oceania |
| Headquarters | Vaiaku, Funafuti |
| President | Mr. Iona Talavai |
| Vice president(s) | Mr. Uluao Lauti |
| Secretary | Ms. Kaie Luenita |
| Coach | Mr. Bryce Moses [1] |
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The Tuvalu Weightlifting Federation (TWF) is the organisation recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation as the weightlifting federation of Tuvalu.
The Tuvalu Weightlifting Federation (TWF) staged its first national competition on 2 July 2013 as part of the Tuvalu Games. The Tuvalu Athletics Association (TAA) allowed the TWF to organized the weightlifting competition, although the event was not sanctioned by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The competition involved 6 females and 18 males. [2] The formation of the TWF follows the success of Tuvaluan weightlifters at international competitions. Logona Esau was the first athlete from Tuvalu to win a medal at an international competition, when he took bronze at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games in the 62 kg male division, [3] In 2007, he won a silver medal in the men's 69 kg clean and jerk at the Pacific Games, lifting 141 kg. [4] Esau also represented Tuvalu at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and also represented Tuvalu at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ioane Haumili and Tuau Lapua Lapua represented Tuvalu at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Ioane Haumili and Logona Esau have trained at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute and they have assisted in the coaching of Tuvaluan weightlifters. Uluao Lauti, who is a former weightlifting representative of Tuvalu, has also assisted during training. [2] Lauti had participated in the Oceania Regional Coaching Workshop in 2003, [5] and is recognized as a Commonwealth international referee. [6]
At the 2013 Pacific Mini Games, Tuau Lapua Lapua won Tuvalu's first gold medal in an international competition in the weightlifting 62 kg snatch, male division. (He also won bronze in the clean and jerk, and obtained the silver medal overall for the combined event.) [7] [8]
In 2015 the TWF sent a team to the Commonwealth Youth Games. [9] The TWF prepared a team for the 2015 Pacific Games held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. [1] Thirteen athletes qualified in weightlifting to represent Tuvalu at the 2015 Pacific Games and the Senior, Youth & Junior Oceania Weightlifting Championships 2015, which were held same time as the competition for weightlifting at the 2015 Pacific Games. [10] [11]
62 kg male division, combined event at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games; [3] 
69 kg clean and jerk at the Pacific Games, lifting 141 kg. [4] 62 kg clean and jerk, male division, 62 kg Snatch, male division; and 62 kg combined event in weightlifting at the 2011 Pacific Games; [7] and 
62 kg; snatch; 62 kg clean and jerk; and for the combined event at the 2013 Pacific Mini Games. [7] 62 kg Weightlifting – Snatch at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games, [12] and also in Weightlifting at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games: 73 kg Snatch, 73 kg Total. [13] In the 2022 Oceania Championships, 73 kg division, Manuila Raobu was also a gold medalist: . [14] 73 kg Snatch - 125 kg, 73 kg Clean & jerk - 152 kg, 73 kg Total - 277 kg.
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.
Tuvalu first participated in the Commonwealth Games in 1998, when a weightlifter attended the games held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tuvalu has subsequently sent teams to compete in the Commonwealth Games.
Erika Yuriko Iris Yamasaki is an Australian weightlifter. The daughter of Minoru Yamasaki and Ann Alvisio, she started Weightlifting in 2000, when she was tested in a talent identification program, along with her brother John Yamasaki. Erika first started to represent Australia in 2003 at the Oceania Championships, Niue Island. She has now competed at several international events, including Oceania Championships, World Championships, World Cup, Commonwealth Championships, Pacific and Commonwealth Games.
Logona Esau is a Tuvaluan weightlifter.
Tuvalu participates in the Olympic Games in the Summer Olympics. They have yet to compete at the Winter Olympics.
Sport is an important part of Tuvaluan culture, which sporting culture is based on traditional games and athletic activities and the adoption of some of the major international sports of the modern era.
Tuvalu competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. It sent three athletes to compete in the discus, shot put and weightlifting events.
Tuvalu competed at the 2011 Pacific Games in Nouméa, New Caledonia between 27 August and 10 September 2011. As of June 28, 2011 Tuvalu has listed 90 competitors.
Tuvalu participates in the Pacific Games which is a multi-sport event with participation exclusively from countries in Oceania. Known as the South Pacific Games prior to 2009, the games are currently held every four years.
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.
Tuau Lapua Lapua is a Tuvaluan weightlifter.
Tuvalu competed at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 4 to 18 July 2015. Nakibae Kitisane was the Chef de Mission. Tuvalu listed 101 competitors as of 4 July 2015. Four competitors qualified for two sports.
Telupe Iosefa is a Tuvaluan powerlifter. In 2015 Telupe Iosefa received the first ever gold medal won by Tuvalu at the Pacific Games in the powerlifting 120 kg male division.
Tuvalu participated in the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 19 November to 2 December 2023.
Tuvalu competed at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. The country participated in nine sports at the 2019 games. The Tuvaluan team was made up of 98 athletes, including 3 para-athletes: Esekai Vaega, Tanielu Soa, and Ioane Hawaii who received a gold medal in the Table Tennis, Men's Seated Singles division.
Weightlifting at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa was held on 9–13 July 2019 at the Faleata Sports Complex in Tuanaimato. The competition included ten men's and ten women's weight classes, with separate medals awarded in each weight class for the snatch and clean and jerk, as well as for the total lift.
Manuila Raobu is a Tuvaluan Weightlifter representing Tuvalu at the Commonwealth Games and Pacific Games.
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