Family affair for Samoa Commonwealth Games gold

PHOTO

Samoa's Niusila Opeloge (R) with NZ's Stanislav Chalaev who won silver. [Courtesy Stuff NZ/PacNews]

Last Updated: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:49:00 +1100

Samoa's Niusila Opeloge has given his family and country their second Commonwealth Games gold medal of the day when he clinched the 105kg heavyweight weightlifting gold.

The 30-year-old had struggled throughout the snatch section of the final, needing three lifts to register 147kg and survive into the clean and jerk.

He then bided his time, came in last and immediately lifted 191kg for a winning total of 338kg, four kilos better than Russian-born New Zealander Stanislav Chalaev.

It has been an an outstanding weekend for Samoa at the Commonwealth Games, winning its first ever gold medals.

Faavae Faauliuli won the men's 94kg class while the Opelonge family have a double celebration after Ele won the women's super heavies and brother Niusila won the 105kg class.

Chef de mission Shelly Burich says the reaction has been amazing.

"Our country is just overwhelmed," she told Radio Australia.

"We are getting wishes and congratulations every day the media has not stopped contacting us and our own Prime Minister is just so proud, apparently we've heard he's telling TV Samoa to replay the gold medal of last night over and over on TV, he just can't get enough of watching it."

Women +75kg
1. Ele Opeloge (SAM) 285kg
2. Maryam Usman (NGR) 255
3. Deborah Acason (AUS) 245

Men 105kg
1. Niusila Opeloge (SAM) 338kg
2. Stanislav Chalaev (NZL) 334
3. Curtis Onaghinor (NGR) 332