Two Cook Islanders are part of the Australian boxing team competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024, in Paris, France.

Cook Islanders Teremoana Junior Teremoana and Tiana Echegaray will be competing in the Men’s 92 kilogram+ and Women’s 54kg divisions, respectively.

Standing at a massive 6’6 feet, Teremoana is Australia’s super heavyweight boxer.

His lineage to the islands of Atiu and Pukapuka (Wale) comes from his father, Teremoana Tangauru, who was raised in Pue, Rarotonga.

Proud of his heritage Teremoana recited a chant from Wale called “Taku Lakau Mei Pukapuka” at Brisbane Airport before the team departed Australia for their final pre-Olympic training camp in Germany on July 5.

Over the past year, he has been through intense, solid training preparations for optimal performances in strength, strategy and endurance.

“At the end of the day what matters is the three-by-three minutes when you’re actually fighting,” said Teremoana in a Queensland Academy of Sports interview earlier this week.

“So, it is a battle of wills, it’s a battle of physical attributes as well. If you can beat them mentally, it’ll make it easier to beat them physically because they’ll give up.

“I don’t fight for myself. Every time I step in the ring, I think of everyone, I think of my family, I think of my country.

“I’m there on behalf of all 26 million here in Australia. I’m representing too many people to let them down.

His mother, Alicia Teremoana in Brisbane, Australia, said via Messenger that saying goodbye to the team this week was “extremely emotional”.

“We are all very excited, emotional and super proud that his Olympic journey has begun,” said Alicia.

In August 2023, Teremoana won gold medal in the Australian Nationals in Perth followed by gold in the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands in November, qualifying him for the Olympics.

Alicia said Teremoana has trained immensely hard over the past year for his Olympic dream.

“Proud is definitely an understatement. His commitment, dedication and sacrifices throughout the lead-up have shown his hunger and drive to win gold,” she said.

“I truly believe Teremoana has got what it takes to get gold. No Australian super heavyweight has ever made it past the first round.

“I’m so proud of what Teremoana has achieved to get to this moment and that is not only his hard work but that of his coach Shara Romer who has made so many sacrifices herself.

“Teremoana will make Australia and the Cook Islands proud, I am sure of it.”

Alicia and her mother Jules fly to Paris on July 27 to be a part of Teremoana’s Olympic dream.