VIDEO: Pacific athletes shine bright in Paris, the City of Lights

In 2024, athletes and para-athletes of the Pacific took to the world stage like never before. Now it’s time to celebrate their Olympic and Paralympic achievements.

Photo credit: Iliya Mitskavets - stock.adobe.com

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From the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games in July, through to the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in September, more than 100 of the region’s most talented and most determined sportspeople had the opportunity to showcase not just their skill, but their character and culture to an international audience.

The joy is captured in this video. Relive the highlights and hear the reflections of outstanding Pacific competitors, including:

Alex Rose, who was the first Pacific athlete to reach the final of a track and field event since the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, representing Samoa in discus
Cook Islands’ swimmer, Lanihei Connolly, who set a personal best and a national record in the 100m breastroke
Vanuatu’s legendary shot put para-athlete, Elie Enock, who achieved her dream of competing alongside world champions in one of the biggest stadiums in the world
Samoan boxer Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, who headed into Olympic competition having won a gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games, just months earlier
19-year-old Fijian para-athlete, Irene Mar, who won her first round in the para-taekwondo and went on to compete in the quarter final
Vanuatu's Johnathan Silas, who achieved a personal best and a national record in the 100m freestyle
Paralympic shot put competitor, Ongiou Timeon, who was the first ever para-athlete from Kiribati to compete at the Paralympics
PNG swimmer, Josh Tarere, who notched up a personal best in the 100m freestyle
and, of course, the Fijian men’s Rugby Sevens team, who came home with an Olympic silver medal.

Having set records, achieved goals, delighted fans and inspired a generation of future Olympians and Paralympians, Pacific athletes are having a well-deserved break – but it won’t be long before they begin making plans for a return to world-class competition.

Transcript

[00:00:00] In the city of lights, the spirit of the Pacific shone brightly.

[00:00:09] "And that is the River Seine, that is on show for the start of the Opening Ceremony of the games of the 33rd Olympiad."

[00:00:17] 104 athletes from 15 Pacific nations across 12 sports. And then...

[00:00:27] "It's all eyes on Paris this morning as the Paralympic Opening Ceremony takes place along the Champs Elysees."

[00:00:33] 13 para-athletes from six Pacific nations.

[00:00:37] "We're all sharing culture, and I think it just makes the whole Oceanic family even stronger." Ben Austin, Paralympics Australia.

[00:00:41] But the journey to Paris started long ago. Since Tokyo, the Australian Government's PacificAus Sports, in collaboration with the Australian Olympic Committee, has supported more than 250 Pacific athletes and 57 para-athletes.

[00:00:59] "It means a lot. They just try and help me as much as they can." Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, Samoa

[00:01:02] There was high performance coaching and training.

[00:01:04] "13-1."

[00:01:05] Competition support.

[00:01:07] "Elie, use the left side, use the pole."

[00:01:09] And access to world-class facilities. That meant Pacific nations delivered a powerful performance at the 2024 Paris Games and triumphed on the world stage at the Paralympics.

[00:01:25] "I'm so excited that now I'm a paralympian!" Elie Enock, Vanuatu.

[00:01:30] In Olympics competition, silver for Fiji in the rugby sevens. Samoa's Alex Rose reached the finals of the men's discus. A new national record for Lanihei Connolly from the Cook Islands. And personal bests from Vanuatu's Johnathan Silas and PNG's Josh Tarere. Plus so many more 'Warriors of Oceania'.

[00:01:51] "The whole concept of Olympic solidarity is when you see an athlete from one of the small Pacific Islands being able to compete on the biggest stage in the world." James MacLeod, International Olympic Committee.

[00:02:00] The Paralympics saw record participation from Pacific Island nations with near equal representation of men and women, plus Kiribati's historic debut with visually impaired shotputter, Ongiou Timeon.

[00:02:14] "He says: I'm so happy. I'm proud to be from Kiribati."

[00:02:18] There were multiple personal bests across shotput, discus and javelin.

[00:02:23] "It was a very overwhelming moment and also very emotional moment. Yeah, it was amazing." Irene Mar, Fiji

[00:02:29] Next stop, Los Angeles and another chance to proudly showcase the strength of the Pacific.

VIDEO: Pacific athletes shine bright in Paris, the City of Lights

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