Samoans Triumph at Strongman Competition in Australia

5 April 2025 – Samoa delivered a strong performance at the Battle in the Bay strongman competition in Melbourne over the weekend, with five athletes from Strongman Samoa finishing on or near the podium across multiple divisions.

The Battle in the Bay, hosted by Australia’s Strongest and Strong Geelong at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre as part of the Fitness Expo, featured competitors from across the region. Samoa’s athletes arrived well-prepared and delivered steady, disciplined performances across all events.

Evangeline Taylor-Pati dominated the Open Women’s division, taking out first place with consistent lifts and confident execution across all events. Her approach was methodical, and the result left no doubt.

“These events reward control and preparation,” she said. “We’ve been training for this level of pressure. Once I got through the first event clean, I knew I could settle in and keep the pace.”

Misa Peter Anae taking out 2nd spot in the Open Men’s Division.

Teammate Elsie Pesamino followed with a strong second-place finish, while Annette Punivalu battled through a tight field to fourth place. The combined results marked a standout day for Samoa’s women, who led the team effort with calm, focused performances.

In the Under 105kg Men’s division, Ryan Walker earned third place. In the Open Men’s category, Misa Peter Anae finished second after a solid showing across all disciplines.

“We came here to compete properly, not just participate,” said Misa. “The whole team stayed switched on. No one panicked, no one rushed.”

Strongman Samoa acknowledged the support of BearWell, who supplied the team’s kit and backed the campaign from the outset. Their support has helped lift the sport’s profile in Samoa and enabled athletes to train and compete at higher levels.

The team now shifts focus to the “Pacific Strongest”, set for 7 June in Apia. It will be the first international strongman event hosted in Samoa, bringing together visiting and local athletes for a full day of heavy events.

Team Samoa that traveled to Melbourne to compete in the Battle in the Bay Strongman competition