Page 38 - IB July 2020

PACIFIC WOMEN’S WEATHER WATCH

“It’s all about
e m p o w e r i n g
women, young
women and girls to
be effective citizens
and it’s not just
Eileen Cikamatana, Paul Coffa Photo: Supplied empowerment, but
COACH COFFA LOOKS TO JAPAN 2021 also how do you
take that knowledge
and impact your
By Alipate Pareti category in both the snatch, and in the clean and jerk. At this community. So it’s
stage she is ineligible to lift for Australia at the Olympics, a comprehensive
When it comes the sport of weightlifting in the Pacific, out- although Coffa has told media there might still be a way for approach now, it’s
side of the star competitors, the other name that immediately her to get there, without specifying how. how you work with “Changes that are really needed are for young
comes to mind is coach Paul Coffa. In fact, his name resounds We could yet see something special emerge from this part- your families, with women’s voices to be really heard. Get more young
across the Pacific region, suggesting strength, power and suc- nership. your community to women involved in meetings, involved in trainings
cess with regards to this sport. Today Coffa intends to retain his strong links to the South raise the standard.” or workshops, getting to have more knowledge in
His illustrious 26 year coaching career at the Oceania Pacific, saying: “The Institute program which I implemented Vanessa Heleta, building their capacity in what issues that they are
Weightlifting Institute includes inspirational stories, where in Sigatoka in 2002 will continue in Australia once the Corona- Director, Talitha facing.” Sabrina Brown, CEO, Vanuatu Young
young Pacific islanders dare to dream big and achieve great- virus clears and borders open.” Project, Tonga. Women for Change, Vanuatu.
ness in the world of weightlifting. By establishing institutions “World class lifters from the Pacific who have qualified or
and training facilities in the region, weightlifters from across a trying to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year will have
the Pacific islands were able to come together and test them- the opportunity to train at the Institute again, this time of
selves under Coffa’s tutelage. The list of successes is long, and course in Australia,” he says. “I know that most of them who
includes Olympics 2008 silver medallist, Samoa’s Ele Opeloge, were in line for the 2021 Olympics training at the Institute “ACTION at the start
and former Nauru President and Commonwealth Games gold will return.” of the chain is FAR
medallist, Marcus Stephens. This is likely to include Dika Toua and Morea Baru from PNG, EASIER than relying on
Coffa has now moved to Australia, where he plans to and Jenlyn Wini from Solomon Islands. interventions further down
continue his work. He closed the Institute in Nauru as the Reflecting on his time in the islands, Coffa writes: “There the track. From a feminist
COVID-19 pandemic meant scholarship lifters returned home, are so many people I would like to thank, but in truth 26 organisation that tries
the Olympics were postponed to 2021 and borders closed. The years’ worth of gratitude cannot be shortened into one line. as much as possible to
Institute had previously been based in Fiji, Samoa and New Nevertheless, I would like to extend my appreciation to the amplify the voices of rural
Caledonia. countries who not only facilitated weightlifting in the Pacific, diverse women to enable
“My 26 years in the Pacific have been very productive. So but in turn contributed to the success of the Institute by send- transformative change –
many weightlifters have become national heroes in their own ing their lifters to train there together”. we seek interventions, and
countries, something that did not exist in the past at this ACTION happening at the
level. Also I was very proud that the Institute program was The Oceania Weightlifting Institute: an impressive record start. And let’s do this in
able to develop many coaches, some who have become the • 314 Pacific Games Gold medals “Women - we are survivors of disaster. We live a consistent, systematic
national coaches of their own countries,” he says. • 15 Gold, 14 Silver and 13 Bronze Commonwealth Games with it, we live through it and when the real way, where we’re able to
After 14 days in quarantine in Australia, Coffa is still hard Medals thing happens, we are there and we’re the first amplify those voices and
at work, drawing up techniques and practising his craft with • 97 Oceania Male Senior champions and 68 Oceania respondents - so it’s very important that we are take our place at that
Female Senior champions
today’s weightlifters. That includes Eileen Cikamatana, a • 1 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze medals won at World empowered and to have the relevant information table.” Susan Naisara-
young Fijian Champion weightlifter who undoubtedly has the Senior, Junior and Youth Championships to be knowledgeable so that it helps us in our roles Grey, Executive Director,
potential to climb and conquer Mount Olympus, if she contin- • 4 World Junior Records established as the first respondents.” Josephine Teakeni, femLINKpacific, Fiji.
ues to perform at her current level. Coffa started coaching • 45 lifters represented Pacific island nations at the Olym- Director, Vois Blong Mere, Solomon Islands.
her back in 2016 and they have been inseparable since. She pics, from the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 to the Rio
left Fiji in acrimonious circumstances over national coaching Olympic Games 2016
decisions and now represents Australia. Cikamatana is training • Numerous weightlifters recognised as Sportsmen/Sports-
at the Australian Institute of Sports until Coffa establishes a women of the Year in their respective countries
new base. • Numerous Pacific lifters appearing as flag bearers for
Before the Coronavirus outbreak, Cikamatana participated their nations at Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games Produced by supported by
and Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies.
at the Roma 2020 World Cup, winning the gold medal for her

38 Islands Business, July 2020