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CI Times Weekly | Current Issue 439|23 March 2012

Cook Islands athletes comment on their performances
By David Blackmore, 9th August 2012

David is a freelance writer who has spent much time in the South Pacific Islands including 3 visits to the Cook Islands and hopes to return in the coming year. At the London Olympics, he talks to members of Team Cook Islands about their performances.

As London soaks up the sun, with four days of the Olympics left, The Cook Islands has one more event to go: the K1 200 metre canoe sprint, with Joshua Utanga up against a world class field of athletes, already having failed to make the semi-finals in the K1 1000 metre sprint.
It is fair to say that London 2012 has seen thrills, spills, smiles and tears; yet shining through all of this is the underlying Olympic spirit.
George George Williamson, Chef de Mission of the Cook Islands seemed a happy man when I spoke with him at the Olympic Village today.
“The Olympic mission is very strong, the Olympic Games is a must. It is all about the athlete, when you see athletes from different nations hugging each other, well, it is also about world peace” he said.
“The organisation of London 2012 has been fantastic, the volunteers very nice, polite and always willing to help. The Pommies are great spectators” he enthused “applauding not only their own competitors, but everybody!”
For George, the Cook Island Team and the flag entering the stadium, was a peak lifetime experience. He then spoke about Kirani James winning the first medal for the small island nation of Grenada.
“One day it will be the Cook Islands on the podium: I would love to see it in my lifetime.
The Cook Islands are here with 8 athletes and one mission: to do their best.
Helema Williams, flag bearer and Laser Radial sailing competitor was the Cook Islands first participant, with 10 races spread over the course of a week. 1st August saw her best result of 28th out of a field of 41, at Weymouth.
Meanwhile, Ella Nicholas was riding the white water and canoe slalom, putting in a tenacious 15th and 16th place in 2 runs. Scores of 118.69 and 118.29 meant that she just missed the cut for the semi-finals, but if she had made it, her point score in the final would have secured her 8th place. Ranking 84th in the world, the Chef de Mission sees a big future for Ella, and as an inspiration for all of Oceania, with her being the only female entrant from the Islands.
Zachary Tepaia Payne was happy overall with his performance in the 50 metre freestyle in the swimming pool, with a time of 25.26 seconds just .01 second from his personal best.
“I didn’t get the perfect start, which was a shame. In training I was doing 10.7 seconds for the first 25 m, but in the race it was 11.1 seconds” he said.
Yet at 18 years old, there is time, as swimmers tend to peak between the ages of 24 and 27.
|It has also, only been a year, since he stepped up his training sessions to 9 times a week, and with more big swim meets in New Zealand in September and Istanbul in December 2012, more experience and muscle will see further improvements.
“It means a lot, but, it is still sinking in” he smiles as I ask him how it feels to be an Olympian.
Celeste Brown, also a 50m freestyle swimmer, broke her own personal best, clocking 29.36 seconds.
“I could have achieved 28.9 if I had glided properly at the finish”.
The World Championships are another opportunity for Celeste, during a busy year, saying farewell to family and friends in Sydney and starting University in Hawaii. The day after her race was her 18th birthday. Her mum was with her in London, and then the team celebrated with cake and balloons in the Olympic Village.
“You can’t do this alone, you need the whole team: coaches, team mates and the support of friends
and family. Being here and experiencing the Olympics, is why people aspire to go on. It’s a reality I could go on to Rio in 2016” she confirms.
“It hit me at the opening ceremony; the whole world is watching and I’m so lucky to be here”
Patrick Tuara, in the 100m men’s sprint had a very tall order. His rise to fame in the Cooks came through the Manea Games in Atiu, which lead to representing his country in his first Oceania Regional Championships in Cairns, Australia, in late June this year.
What a year for Patrick with a personal best of 11.71 seconds, and a follow up in his heat in the Olympic stadium in front of an 80,000 cheering crowd, with a commendable time of 11.72 seconds. He will surely improve with his sights also on the next Olympic Games in Rio 2016.
His teammate Patricia Taea, in the women’s 100m sprint, already the Cook Islands record holder in the event, and Junior Sportswomen of the Year in 2008 and 2010, was relaxed and eloquent during our interview.
Patricia is from Titikaveka, and does all her training in Rarotonga at the BCI stadium. Patricia prepared well for the Olympics, being mentally focused, and training hard with the help of her coach, John Teiti.
“I came into the stadium to lane 7 and wow, I felt special, what a good feeling to represent your country. This Olympics is different to all other competitions; the whole world is watching, it made me feel proud” she said.
Also revealing that the pressure actually helps her performance, not an uncommon statement at this level, she went on to secure 3rd place out of 8 in her heat, achieving very close to her personal best of 12.44, at 12.47 seconds. Only a .23 second improvement would have put her through to the next round, tantalisingly close, and an improvement on her seasons best of 12.61 at the Oceania Regional Championships in June 2012.
“The opening ceremony was so cool, with awesome performances; I loved it and would love to see it again. I see friends from Oceania and we encourage each other; they are the Island Sisters” she continued.
“I’ve met lots of athletes here, new friends from other countries, and old friends from other big competitions; it’s the best. I finished very happy, knowing I can consistently run in the 12.4’s. I was relieved and full of enjoyment”
Talking about other things it turns out that Patricia is an all round athlete, playing netball, soccer and rugby as well. Surely an inspiration to those around her, she wants to encourage others to take up sport.
“What does it mean to you to be an Olympian?” I asked.
“You cannot get any higher than to be an Olympian. I am excited to be called an Olympian. I have so much pride in representing my country and having other people recognise that. It is really big for me” she replied.
It has helped her focus and believe in herself. While also supporting her fellow athletes from the Cook Islands, like the entire world, Patricia was very impressed by Usain Bolt, and met him in the Village. It seems that’s how it works, faster, further, longer, better; it takes so many factors, and there are 18,000 of you living in the Cook Islands, right now, who are part of that. It is a two way street, a feed back loop.
While so many wax lyrical about Bolt, George, the Chef de Mission, highlights the soaring achievements of Luisa Peters, still only 19 years old, and progressing in leaps and bounds in the 75+kg weightlifting class. She could not have had better mentors, in her Grandmother Rosie Blake, former Chef de Mission, and her coach Sam Pera Senior, who represented the Cook Islands at 4 Olympics, and is now at his 6th Olympiad as a coach. With such support, Luisa is on an upward curve. There are 2 different types of lift in this category, the snatch and the clean and jerk. Two years ago Luisa was at 60kg and 80kg respectively. One year ago at 75kg and 95kg, and then improved on her personal best in June 2012 of 80kg and 98kg, to achieve 82kg and 100kg in the Olympics. Such improvement bodes well for the future, and a 12th place in the Olympics will surely improve as she sets her sites on Rio in 2016.
The Olympics are inspiring for all. Fortunate to be here, I am in awe, but it is the big picture that is truly inspiring. One world, one people. We live in hope because of it.

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- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009

 
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