Emmanuel Ulimasao did not come from a family of weightlifters, but that did not stop him from taking up the sport and building his own path for Samoa.
The 18-year-old was the last athlete from Team Samoa to compete yesterday evening, winning six medals in the men’s 94kg division.
Speaking to the media after his event, Ulimasao said the medals were for his family and his team.
“This is for my family who have been supporting me, and for my team that I have been running alongside,” he said.
Ulimasao won three silver medals in the Universal Cup, taking silver in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total.
He also won one silver medal in the senior division of the Oceania competition.
In the junior division, he won one gold medal in the Commonwealth competition and one gold medal in the Oceania competition.
Ulimasao started weightlifting in 2023. His earlier achievements include three gold medals and three records at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
The young lifter said he wants to continue representing Samoa in weightlifting and hopes to encourage younger relatives who may want to follow the same path in sport.
The Samoa Weightlifting Association continues to develop its emerging athletes while hosting one of the year’s major weightlifting events. Team Samoa is also preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships.
