At just 16, delightful Emii Akava has emerged as outstanding talent at the 2024 Cook Islands Games, displaying her exceptional skills across multiple sports.

With an impressive haul of nine medals in the Under 18 division for the island of Manihiki, her determination and versatility have not only made her a standout competitor but also a source of inspiration for young athletes.

Akava won six gold medals – one each from discus, shotput and weightlifting and three from oe vaka, and three silver medals from oe vaka V1 and sprints events.

She paddled in the V1 singles oe vaka for the first time, finishing in a time of 45.09 minutes, earning a silver medal.

Akava completed all her sports events last week and is relieved to be having a bit of a rest this week.

“It’s been so tiring, I did all my sports last week,” she said. “I’m just glad that I did good, it’s kinda tiring but fun because you’re winning.”

“Maybe it’s because of the thrill, because you know you can do good and it’s good to show your talent.”

This year, Akava improved immensely her athletic abilities from two years ago at her first Cook Islands Games, where she earned three medals for Team Manihiki.

“I love the Games because it brings everyone together, it brings sportsmanship, it brings love,” she said.

“I love that we see every island and the people from the Pa Enua and we become one big family …”

Akava would like to acknowledge both her Aunty Tunoa and Uncle Eugene Kaina, who first encouraged and motivated her to join the Cook Islands Games for Manihiki in 2022.

“They asked me so I said yeah, I love the both of them,” she says.

This year in July, Akava represented the Cook Islands U19 girls oe vaka sprints team in Hawai’i.

In September, she performed exceptionally well at the Cook Islands youth athletics event, placing first in the shot put and discus field events.

In December, she will be representing the Cook Islands in the Secondary Schools athletics meet in Christchurch, New Zealand, for the first time.

“I feel excited but also nervous,” she said of the forthcoming competition.

Akava credited her coach at school, Mr. Parima, for helping with her training.

“He was my old coach two years ago but then I went to paddling and now I’m back at it so I’ll give it a good try.”

Through her achievements, Akava hopes to inspire young children to have a go at sports.

“If you really want to do it, just try it and see where you go from there. It’s good to be curious.”

Akava is the eldest daughter of popular singer Rose Ringiia Akava and Paul Akava. Her siblings are an older brother, Terry, a twin brother Tiaiti and a younger sister, Luka.

“Both my brothers paddled in the marathon oe vaka and came third getting a bronze in the Opens.”