At the age of 16, Asenate Manoa represented Tuvalu at the Olympic Games. She ran in the 100m in Beijing in 2008. Although she may not have been highly placed internationally, she achieved a personal and national best in her event. She will bring her Olympic knowledge and experience to the Pacific Mini Games where she hopes to again improve on her personal best, and if she can, to win a medal. She has been assisted by the chef de mission for Tuvalu, Sylia Taafaki-Tevao.
Attempting to focus on winning medals is not an easy task for talented athletes like Asenate from an isolated country like Tuvalu.
Sylia described the financial difficulties of getting their sportsmen to events such as the Pacific Mini Games. The logistics of travel from Tuvalu to this event can take away some of the focus for these athletes. Just getting here is a mission and then they have to try to win medals.
The three athletes in this team did not travel together. The weightlifters arrive next Monday – just in time for their first event on Tuesday morning. They won’t have time to worry about jet lag.
Sylia too has had to make personal sacrifices to be here to support her protegees. Because of limited resources, there are no daily allowances for this chef de mission, but Sylia has made the commitment to help the youngsters of her country to try to win medals and to bring honour to their country, Tuvalu
Last Modified on 24/09/2009 13:40