The Opeloge Family is officially the strongest family in the South Pacific.

Lifting a combined weight of 788kgs, Nuisila, Ele and Mary Opeloge secured their nine out of nine Gold’s possible for them to achieve for their family and Samoa.

Newsline interviewed a near voiceless Mary Opeloge on Wednesday who said her parents were very excited for the family to win so many elite awards.

Mary was also very proud of her older siblings and hopes to continue the success at the World Championships in two weeks time.

Nuisila was the first of the two older siblings to compete on Wednesday and smashed records for both the Clean and Jerk and his total weight in the 105kg division.

With a Clean and Jerk weight of 190kg, Nuisila broke the South Pacific Games record which has been withstanding since 1999.

Nuisila attempted to break the South Pacific Senior record on his third attempt but was unsuccessful with an attempted lift of 201kg.

He also lifted 151kg in the snatch category for a total weight of 341kg which was also a South Pacific Games record.

Of the Opeloge family, President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Jerry Wallwork said, “today [Wednesday] is a great day for weightlifting and Samoa.”

Wallwork who was also celebrating his birthday on that day also said, “This is the best birthday ever, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

“Ele is almost at the top of the world rankings,” he explained, “she is working her way up very fast.”

Like Nuisila, Ele also demolished old South Pacific Games records in all three events and also managed a Commonwealth record in the Snatch.

She snatched a total of 113kg, had a Clean and Jerk lift of 145kg and lifted a South Pacific Games record total of 258kg.

“Who knows what the Olympics [Beijing, 2008] will bring,” explained Mr. Wallwork, “Ele has the talent to go a long way.”

Ele is currently in the top six in the world and had she succeeded in her final lift in the Clean and Jerk of 151kg it would have moved her up to the top five in the world.

All three siblings train at the Oceania Institute of Weightlifting here in Samoa, Mr. Wallwork couldn’t be prouder of his three lifters in particular young Mary who at only sixteen years of age is already making a huge impact.

“She is naturally strong,” he said, “She can go a long way.”

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