Kiribati at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Kiribati at the
2008 Summer Olympics
Flag of Kiribati.svg
IOC code KIR
NOC Kiribati National Olympic Committee
Website www.oceaniasport.com/kiribati
in Beijing
Competitors2 in 2 sports
Flag bearer David Katoatau
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

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.

Contents

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] As of these Olympics, Kiribati had never won an Olympic medal. [3]

Weightlifter David Katoatau was Kiribati's flag bearer for the opening ceremonies. [4] The flag bearer for the closing ceremony was Kiribati NOC president Birimaka Tekanene. [5]

Athletics (track and field)

Kaitinano Mwemweata fell ill and did not participate in the Olympics, and was treated for tuberculosis instead. [6] Her withdrawal left Kiribati with one representative in athletics. [7] Rabangaki Nawai was entered in the 100 meter and 200 meter sprint events. Nawai ran a personal season's best time of 11.29 seconds in the first round of the 100 meter sprint. He had the fastest reaction time in the heat, but placed last, and failed to progress to the next round. [8] He did not run in the 200 meter competition for undisclosed reasons. [7] [9]


Key

  • Note: Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
AthleteEventHeatQuarter-finalSemi-finalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank
Rabangaki Nawai 100 m 11.298Did not advance

Weightlifting

David Katoatau represented Kiribati in the men's 85 kg class of the weightlifting competition, qualifying by wildcard. [10] He finished in 15th place, ahead of Terrence Dixie of Seychelles and five lifters who did not finish the event. [11]

AthleteEventSnatchClean & JerkTotalRank
ResultRankResultRank
David Katoatau Men's −85 kg 135181781531315 [12]

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.

Sierra Leone at the 2004 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Sierra Leone competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's eighth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1968 Summer Olympics. The Sierra Leone delegation included two track and field athletes; Lamin Tucker and Hawanatu Bangura, both of whom were sprinters that were selected via winning an event in Freetown, as the nation had no athletes that met the "A" or "B" standards in any event. Bangura was selected as flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Neither of the two athletes progressed beyond the heats.

Mauritania at the 2004 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Mauritania competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. The country's participation at Athens marked its sixth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included two track and field athletes, Youba Hmeida and Aminata Kamissoko, who were both selected by wildcards after both failed to meet either the "A" or "B" qualifying standards. Hmeida was selected as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Neither of the Mauritanians progressed beyond the heats.

El Salvador at the Olympics Sporting event delegation

El Salvador first competed in the Olympic Games at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. It has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since that time, excluding those held in 1976 and 1980, when the nation joined the American-led boycott in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. They have never competed in the Olympic Winter Games. El Salvador has not earned a medal at any Olympic Games.

Fiji at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Fiji sent a team to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The country's flagbearer during the Games' opening ceremony was female sprinter Makelesi Bulikiobo. Fiji was represented by a total of six athletes.

Nauru at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

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.

Swaziland at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Swaziland sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8–24, 2008. This was the Kingdom's eighth appearance at a Summer Olympic Games. The Swazi delegation to Beijing consisted of four competitors, two track and field athletes; Isaiah Msibi and Temalangeni Dlamini; and two swimmers; Luke Hall and Senele Dlamini. None of the four advanced beyond the first round of their respective events.

Kaitinano Mwemweata is an I-Kiribati athlete. She was the first person ever to compete for Kiribati at the Olympic Games, when she represented her country at the 100 metre sprint in Athens in 2004.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The year's team included two athletes engaged in track and field events, and was accompanied by the team coach, manager, and chaperone. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' appearance in Beijing marked its sixth consecutive Olympic appearance since its 1988 debut in Seoul, South Korea, and its smallest delegation to date. Alexander bore the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the opening ceremony and neither athlete medaled in their events or advanced to later rounds.

Mauritania at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Mauritania competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics which was held in Beijing, China. The country's participation at Beijing marked its seventh appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included two track and field athletes, Souleymane Ould Chebal and Bounkou Camara, who were both selected by wildcards after both failed to meet either the "A" or "B" qualifying standards. Chebal was selected as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Neither of the Mauritanians progressed beyond the heats.

David Katoatau is an I-Kiribati weightlifter.

Rabangaki Nawai is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Kiribati.

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.

Ghana at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Ghana competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics, having competed in all but three editions since 1952. 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.

British Virgin Islands at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

The British Virgin Islands sent a delegation to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, which took place between 27 July to 12 August 2012. The country's participation in London marked its eighth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The British Virgin Islands delegation included two track and field athletes, 100 meter sprinters J'maal Alexander and Tahesia Harrigan-Scott. Alexander failed to progress through the heats whilst Harrigan-Scott was eliminated in her event's quarterfinals.

The Gambia at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

The Gambia 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 eighth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its début at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included two athletes, Suwaibou Sanneh and Saruba Colley, the former had qualified by setting a qualifying time that fell within the required standard and the latter entered via a wildcard place. Sanneh was selected as the flag bearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies. Sanneh became the first Gambian athlete to advance into the semi-finals of the men's 100 metres, while Colley was eliminated after the quarter-final stages of the Women's 100 metres.

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.

Mauritania at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

Mauritania 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 eighth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included two track and field athletes, Jidou El Moctar and Aicha Fall, who were selected to the team by wildcard places, as the nation had no athletes that met either the "A" or "B" qualifying standards. Moctar was selected as flag bearer for the opening ceremony while a LOCOG Games Maker carried it for the closing ceremony. Neither of the two athletes progressed beyond the heats.

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.

Kiribati at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sporting event delegation

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.

References

  1. Grasso, John; Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (14 May 2015). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Rowman & Littlefield.
  2. Bingham, Eugene (31 July 2004). "First-time Olympians beat odds". NZ Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  3. "Kiribati". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. "David Katoatau". Olympic.org. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. "Closing Ceremony Flag bearers" (PDF). Olympic.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2012.
  6. "Kiribati athletes ready for Olympic competition". ABC Radio Australia. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Kiribati sends three athletes to Beijing Olympics". Xinhua News Agency. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  8. "Rabangaki's season's best!". Kiribati Athletics Association. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  9. "200m Men". Olympic.org. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. "Hale to Olympics". Solomon Star. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 25 October 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  11. "2008 Summer Olympics Results - Weightlifting". ESPN. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. "Weightlifting at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games: Men's Light-Heavyweight". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2018.