Team PNG share insights

Team PNG’s athletes were given the chance to share their experiences of what it was like to compete against some of the world’s best at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

This was what they had to say.

Rachel Sapery James (Triathlon): “For me it was unfinished business from 2014. I had to work really hard and made history becoming the first Papua New Guinean and Pacific Island female to compete and complete an elite international level triathlon race. I’m pretty proud of myself and it was an honour to represent PNG. I think Team PNG did an amazing job this year.”

Loa Babona (Lawn bowls): “It was an honour to represent PNG. To be honest, being the oldest athlete in Team PNG, I was still nervous but at the same time really excited to take part. We all enjoyed the Games.”

Peniel Richard (Athletics): “It was awesome. The Games were an amazing experience. I was really grateful to be out there.”

Steven Kari (Weightlifting): “I told my coach, I’m going for gold. I had never lifted that amount before, not even at training. But I wanted gold and went for gold.”

(Loa Babona, Team PNG’s oldest athlete, sharing her experience)

Author: 
Troy Taule