An Avele College student, Don Opeloge has continued the Opeloge weightfliting familys legacy when he won bronze in todays Commonwealth Youth Games competition in the 85kg category.
Cameroon Valdi Ahmed Njoya scooped the gold, Pakistan’s Abdur Rehman taking silver and Opeloge settled for bronze.
Opeloge’s best in the Snatch was 96kg while his Clean & Jerk total points were 122kg. He received 218 as his final points.
Don nephew is a the youngest of the Opeloge family with two older brothers and sisters Ele and Mary Opeloge who have all represented and won medals for Samoa in the sport. Don said that he only started lifting weights this year and because his family is so involved in the weightlifting, he gave it a try.
Don is the nephew of former international weightlifter medalist Niusila Opeloge and his aunties Ele and Mary Opeloge are Commonwealth Gold medalists for Samoa.
Don hopes winning the bronze will be the start of a bright future for him in the sport. His medal brings Samoa’s medals tally to 5.