Opeloge thankful for support

SAMOA – Ele Opeloge has thanked supporters in Samoa and abroad for contributing to a fundraising campaign honouring her Olympic success.

The weightlifter won Samoa’s first Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, after being upgraded to silver last year when two competitors were disqualified for drugs.

The Samoa government refused to offer Opeloge a financial reward for her historic achievement, saying government policy is to only do so for gold medal winners.

But the Samoa Observer newspaper has raised thousands of tala for the 31-year-old after launching their own fundraising campaign.

“I give thanks to the Observer and all companies and the school for this fund for me,” Opeloge said.

“I’m very happy for this money to help me and help to my family.”

“It’s not only Samoa – the people overseas, I’d like to say thank you to the lots of people supporting me”.

Opeloge was diplomatic when asked if she thought the government should reward all Olympic medalists and not only gold medal winners from the Commonwealth and Olympic events, saying, “I don’t know” with a slight giggle of acknowledgement.

Opeloge has already arrived in Samoa to a hero’s welcome at the airport but will formally receive her silver medal at an official government reception next week.

Opeloge is now based in New Zealand but has been back in Samoa for the past week ahead of the medal ceremony.

She hoped her achievement can inspire future Samoan athletes to new Olympic success.

- RNZ/PNC