BY CHRIS ALEX
THE bodybuilding sport is exploding, and it has created history for Solomon Islands by winning 10 medals for the first time in the XVII Pacific Games.
Team Bodybuilding, made history by winning 10 medals [five Gold, four Silver and one Bronze] in a Pacific Games shows that the future of Powerlifting sport in Solomon Islands is bright.
Tome Kelesi, Barnabas Waga (also known as “Mr. Solomons”), and Allen Atai won gold medals in their weight classes; Kelesi won the 65 kg division, Waga won the 80 kg class, and Atai won the 90 kg class.
Rex Billy and Yuchen Gou won bronze medals, while Mustafa Rade, Silas Kiu Alpheus Fiuramo, David Ama, and Corina Dettke collected silver medals.
Solomon Islands Bodybuilding Assistant Coach Andrew Noel told RAW SPORTS that it is vital to increase support for individual sports like bodybuilding, emphasizing the need for resources and facilities to nurture talent, who consider stepping on stage in a physique competition and also elevate the standard of competition in the country.
The bodybuilding assistance coach expressed his sincere gratitude and triumph to his team for their unwavering commitment, sacrifices, and hard work that resulted in a successful outcome at the recent Pacific Games.
The coach acknowledged the importance of making the nation proud while expressing great pride in the outcomes attained in spite of many obstacles.
In the middle of the long training sessions and sleepless nights, the coach realized how important nutrition is to bodybuilding.
He emphasized the difficulties in providing athletes with the proper nutrition and supplements while underlining the significance of consuming the appropriate amount of protein while training. The coach is proud of the team for achieving excellent results in spite of these challenges.
The coach discussed the competition itself and the differences that exist between local athletes—who compete mostly in the Oceania region—and their counterparts who are exposed to international competitions and have access to better training facilities.
Drawing on his background as a former player, this was his first coaching position, which gave the team’s accomplishments even more meaning.
With an eye toward the future, the coach pledged to carry on with his coaching career in order to support the nation’s bodybuilding community.
He emphasized the advantages bodybuilding can have for both individuals and the country as a whole, inviting young people to participate in the sport in greater numbers.
The coach pleaded with athletic authorities to support individual sports like bodybuilding more, stressing the need for facilities and resources to develop talent and raise the bar for competition.
He’s vision goes beyond individual achievements to include a team effort to improve the nation’s sporting environment.
Andrew thanked everyone in the country—families, friends, and all—for their unwavering support.
He made a plea for continued support with an eye toward upcoming competitions, thinking that this kind of solidarity is essential to athletes’ success on the international scene.
Likewise, Solomon Islands female bodybuilding silver medallist, Corina Dettki also acknowledged that despite not having enough time to prepare and this being her first Pacific Games appearance, she was happy to have won a medal for the country.
“This is the first Pacific Games that I and most of the team have competed in. We didn’t have the best of preparations – I wish we had more time but its ok! We just had to work with what we have, learn from our mistakes and work hard towards the next Pacific Games in Tahiti,” she told Pacific Games News Service.
