Don Opeloge named Team Samoa Flag Bearer in Paris 2024 Olympics

Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 17 March 2024 – One of Samoa’s medal prospects in the Paris 2024 Olympics, weightlifter Laauli Don Opeloge has been named the Team Samoa flag bearer.

Opeloge was announced during yesterday’s farewell for the team where the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio offered his blessings and best wishes for the team on behalf of the country’s tapuaiga.

The 27 year old is of the renowned Opeloge weightlifting family whose aunt, Ele Opeloge is the first and so far the only Samoan athlete with an Olympic medal who won Silver in weightlifting in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Despite the disappointment of missing out the 2020 Olympics due to the Covid pandemic lockdown, Don Opeloge and female weightlifter Iuniarra Sipaia have sacrificed a lot and persisted on high level training so to finally represent Samoa at the highest level.

Team Samoa Paris 2024 departs for France this Sunday and will comprise 52 people in total; 24 athletes to compete in 9 sports, 18 officials, 5 Team Management, 3 Government dignitaries and 2 Special Guests.

Sports and athletes

1. Athletics
   Alexander Melei ROSE
2. Boxing
   Ato Plodzicki FAOAGALI
3. Judo
   Will Tai TIN
4. Kayak
   Tuva’a Mako Hugo CLIFTON
   Samalaulu Fuatino Te Aho CLIFTON
5. Sailing
   Eroni LEILUA
   Vaimo’oi’a Astrid RIPLEY
6. Swimming
   Johann STRICKLAND
   Kaiya BROWN
7. Weightlifting
   Don OPELOGE
   Iuniarra SIPAIA
8. Wrestling
   Gaku TAKASAWA
9. Rugby Sevens Men
   14 Players