Vaipava Nevo Ioane bids emotional goodbye to weightlifting

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 04 AUGUST 2022: Thirty-four-year-old Samoan weightlifter, Vaipava Nevo Ioane has announced his retirement after claiming Samoa’s first Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.

It’s a secret even his weightlifting coach, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork and team didn’t know until after his last lift, where he broke into tears, took off his shoes and left them on the platform indicating that he won’t wear them again.

The lifter then bowed to thank the crowd for their love and support and slowly walked off to the change room.

Ioane was then seen wiping his tears rolling down his cheeks.

Baby Birmingham Jerry Ioane
But there was another secret he kept to himself along the way to Birmingham. Leaving behind his expecting wife and three children, Ioane’s decision to retire centred around his growing family.

His wife gave birth to a baby boy two days after Ioane won first Silver medal for Samoa 2022 in Birmingham.

They have named him Birmingham Jerry Ioane.

Vaipava with family before the arrival of Baby Birmingham Jerry Ioane.

He knew Birmingham was his last competition as he put his family first now.

Even his Coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork had no idea that his star pupil was calling time on his 12 year long career.

“The retirement was a surprise, we didn’t know anything about that,” Jerry said.

“But he’s served his country for quite a few years. He’s married now with four kids, I don’t blame him at all.”

With competition in full swing, Nevo easily progressed to the top two for his 67kg weight category.

Although he hoped to bring home a gold as his last medal for Samoa, Coach Wallwork said Ioane had fought all the way from the snatch to the last jerk and it was one of the best performances of his career.

Nevo’s second attempt at the snatch was a personal best at 127kg.

His second go at the clean and jerk was a Commonwealth Games record, at 166kg.

“Things were looking good, but tight. He would have to go to 174kg to win the gold, and to lift an 8kg increase would be considered akin to a miracle.”

“We started with 163kg to secure bronze, then got 166kg to secure silver but we had the job of jumping to 174kg to win gold,” Jerry said.

When Nevo’s 174kg failed jerk crashed to the floor, he missed out on the gold but would take home a silver medal for Samoa.

Nevo finds it hard to imagine a future without weightlifting, and thinks he’ll continue in coaching and development for Samoa.

“It’s been a long journey for me. I’m going to miss the sport, my friends, my friends from other countries in every competition I go to,” he said.

“I wish them all the best luck for the future.”

A colourful career
Ioane started his weightlifting career in 2007 when he won gold at the South Pacific Games, gold at the Oceania Championship in 2012, a gold medal in the Oceania in 2013, bronze medal in Commonwealth Games in 2014, gold in the 2015 Pacific Games, a gold medal in the Olympic Qualifications, gold in the Oceania 2017 and a silver medal in the Arafura Games in 2019.

He also won 5 gold medals in total for Oceania competitions 2019 at the Pacific Games, Oceania and Commonwealth Championships.

He represented Samoa at the 2016 summer Olympics and qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but the team pulled out due to Samoa’s Covid borders lockdown.