Eroni Leilua, a prominent Samoan sailor, has achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the Olympic Games for the second time, as noted in an update on his Facebook page. Following his historic debut as Samoa’s first representative in sailing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Leilua is now poised to continue his remarkable journey at the Paris Olympics in 2024, bringing immense pride to his nation and solidifying his status in the sport.
Expressing his excitement after the qualifying events at Sail Sydney, Eroni stated, “To represent Samoa on the biggest stage again is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to fly the flag for the first time on French waters.”
However, the journey to the Olympics has not been easy, as Leilua had to self-fund his Olympic pathway, facing both financial challenges and rigorous training. He expressed pride and gratitude for the support of his family, including parents, siblings, wife, and daughter, acknowledging the sacrifices made along the way.
Qualifying for the Olympics in sailing proved to be a demanding and expensive road. The first qualifying event took place in Hague, Netherlands, in August 2023, followed by the Sail Sydney Oceania Olympic Qualifier on December 23, 2023.
Eroni thanked his coach, Ian Neelly, and New Zealand sponsors, along with local Samoan sponsors National Bank of Samoa and Swire Shipping, for their contributions to his journey.
With seven months of intensive training ahead, Eroni is gearing up for peak performance at the Olympic Games. Both the Samoa Sailing Association and Eroni are seeking local sponsors to support the financial aspects of his training. The association is calling on local companies to support Eroni on his Olympic journey and ensure his training needs are met.