Youngest Samoan lifter Shaniyah Seuao impress audience

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 28 April 2026: Samoas’ youngest lifter Shaniyah Seuao, 13 year old of Se’ese’e went up against some of the Pacific’s’ best in the Women Snatch the Clean & Jerk categories in the second day of the Universal Weightlifting Cup in progress in Apia this week.

Seuao successfully completed 3 lifts in the Women Snatch 58kg category and another 3 lifts in the Women Clean and Jerk 63kg category.

Shaniyah is currently a Year 9 student at Leififi College and every time she took the stage to lift, the cheering from the crowd was deafening especially from students of Leififi College students who were part of schools invited to witness the competition.

Although Shaniyah has been training for some time, this is her first internationally competition.

Asked if she was intimidated by the difference in age with other competitors who are much older than her, Shaniyah said “no because I was confident to go in and do my best.”

She is happy for the opportunity to carry Samoas’ flag and she sees it as a economic pathway to help her family as she grows up.

She is not only the youngest in Team Samoa but also the youngest of three siblings who are all competing in the current competition in the Oceania and Commonwealth division.

Her sister Sefulu and brother Faitasia will lift tomorrow and Thursday and Shaniyah will be there to cheer them on.

Shaniyah Seuao (right) with her older sister Sefulu both competing in the current weightlifting tournament.