Sport in Samoa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The main sports played in Samoa are rugby union and rugby league. Other popular sports are netball and soccer. Samoans in American Samoa are more likely to follow or play American sports such as American football, basketball, and baseball. Sports such as mixed martial arts, boxing, professional wrestling, and volleyball are popular among most ethnic Samoans regardless of location.

Types of sports

Rugby union

The Samoa national rugby union team.

Rugby union is the main sport in Samoa as it is played everywhere on the island. Samoa's national team has competed in every Rugby World Cup since 1991 and they consistently rank in the top 20 teams in world rugby. Some of the current national team record holders are Brian Lima for most caps and most tries, Tusi Pisi for most points, Semo Sititi for most matches as captain, and Gavin Williams for most points in a match. Elvis Seveali'i and Alesana Tuilagi are tied for most tries in a single match.

Rugby league

Rugby League World Golden Boot Award winner in 2019 for best international player. Tuivasa-Sheck also won the prestigious Dally M Medal as the best player in the National Rugby League in 2018. Sonny Bill Williams had previously won the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) International Player of the year
award in 2013.

American football

NFL than any other boy in America.[1]
NFL. In 2014, Marcus Mariota became the first Polynesian player to win the Heisman Trophy. In 2015, Junior Seau became the first Polynesian player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Troy Polamalu won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2010 and is the first Polynesian player to be on the cover of a Madden NFL video game. Ken Niumatalolo is believed to be the first Polynesian head coach in college football history.[2]

Association football

all-time leading goalscorer with 50 goals in 108 appearances. Cahill is the only Australian to feature at four FIFA World Cups, scoring goals at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments. Tim's brother Chris Cahill is playing as a captain for the Samoan national team. Sarai Bareman, who represented Samoa, was named Chief Women's Football Officer of FIFA
in 2016.

Australian rules football

Samoa Rules and is played on rugby fields.[3]
The governing body for the sport is the
Bulldogs, the name being chosen as the AFL's Western Bulldogs wore the Samoan national colours and has sent some professional players to visit the islands on clinics. AFL players to visit Samoa for coaching clinics include Dermott Brereton, Brad Johnson and Steven Kretiuk
.

Basketball

Samoa will host the 2021

Samoa's national basketball team finished runner-up.[5] Wally Rank and James Johnson are players of Samoan descent to have played in the NBA

Boxing

Professional boxing

Mexican American Andy Ruiz Jr. by a narrow majority points decision for the WBO belt.[7] Jimmy 'Thunder' Peau held the IBO heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995.[8] David Tua challenged Englishman Lennox Lewis on 11 November 2000 for the WBC and IBF world heavyweight titles, losing by unanimous points decision.[9] On 26 April 2014, Alex Leapai challenged long-reigning WBO, WBA Super and IBF world heavyweight champion Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, losing by fifth round stoppage.[10] Having been wrested of his WBA world title by German Felix Sturm on 11 March 2006,[11] Maselino Masoe would later challenge Hungarian Károly Balzsay on 25 April 2009 for the WBO super middleweight title, losing by TKO in the 11th round.[12]

Amateur boxing

In 2011,

AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Astana.[13] While renowned for his punching power during his professional career, David Tua also had a proven amateur career, winning bronze medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships while representing New Zealand.[14] During his amateur career, Jimmy Peau won the gold medal in the heavyweight division for New Zealand at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.[15] Amateur boxers representing Samoa have performed well at various Commonwealth Games, winning silver and bronze medals
dating back to 1974.

Kickboxing

In 2001, unheralded newcomer

Jerome LeBanner (2nd round KO), German Stefan Leko (unanimous points decision) and Brazilian Francisco Filho (extended round unanimous points decision) in a single night to become the only non-European fighter to win the prestigious event.[16] Crowd favourite Ray Sefo had reached the K-1 World Grand Prix final in 2000, losing to Dutchman Ernesto Hoost by unanimous points decision.[17] On February 25, 2018, Genah Fabian became the first woman of Samoan descent to win a World Muaythai Council (WMC) world title.[18]

Cricket

Cricket is a minor sport in Samoa. The Samoan national cricket team became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2000. In 2005, they competed in the East Asia/Pacific Cup, finishing in last place, thus missing out on qualification for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Mixed martial arts (MMA)

Jose Aldo in the third round of their unification bout to determine the undisputed UFC world featherweight championship.[22] At the 2017 World MMA Awards, Holloway was named the Charles 'Mask' Lewis Fighter of the year[23] with Whittaker named International Fighter of the year.[24] In another MMA organization, on September 24, 2016, Siala-Mou Siliga won the Road FC Openweight Tournament at Road FC 33.[25]

Netball

INF Netball World Cup since 1991. The team also competes at every Pacific Games
where they have won silver and bronze medals.

Volleyball

Sumo wrestling

In the world of Sumo, Fiamalu Penitani became just the second non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach yokozuna, the highest rank in the sport. Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach ōzeki, the second-highest rank in the sport. Kilifi Sapa is known for being the third non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach the top division. However, his highest rank was maegashira, the lowest of five ranks in the makuuchi division.[27]

Professional wrestling

A number of

Emily Dole, and Sonny Siaki
.

Other sports

Several Samoans have won medals at the Summer Olympic Games and other international events. Ele Opeloge created history for Samoa by earning the nation's first ever Olympic medal, a silver in the Women's +75 kg Weightlifting class at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[28]

FINA World Aquatics Championships. In 1984, Robin Leamy won a gold medal for swimming as a member of the United States men's 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.[30][31]

Tumua Anae and Sami Hill have won gold medals with the United States women's Water polo squad at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics respectively.[32][33]

Niall Williams won silver medals for New Zealand .[34]

She would compete at four Olympic Games from 1996 to 2008, her highest placing - 6th in 2004.

In Professional bodybuilding, Samoan Sonny Schmidt became the first Pacific Islander to win a Mr. Olympia event when he was crowned the 1995 Masters Olympia winner for contestants over 40 years of age.[36][37]

Stadiums in Samoa

Stadium Capacity City Tenants Image
Apia Park 12,000 Apia Rugby union: Samoa national rugby union team

See also

References

  1. ^ Pelley, Scott. "American Samoa: Football Island". CBS News. Retrieved 17 Sep 2010.
  2. ^ Ruck, Rob. "Football's Polynesian moment: Samoa's athletic outliers are paying a steep price for their commitment to the game". Salon. Retrieved 5 Feb 2016.
  3. ^ Team by team guide to the International Cup from The Age. August 11, 2002
  4. ^ AFL Samoa
  5. ^ Samoa excited to host 2021 FIBA Polynesian Cup, FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. ^ Peter Jessup (2017-05-03). "Boxing: South Auckland welder claims world middleweight title". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  7. ^ Vatapuia Maiava (2017-01-01). "Lupesoliai La'auli Joseph Parker - Samoa's very own world champion". Samoanobserver.ws. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  8. ^ "Boxer Jimmy 'The Thunder' Peau dies aged 54 after brain surgery". stuff.co.nz. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  9. ^ James Slater (2020-11-11). "20 Years Ago: When Lennox Lewis Beat David Tua In A Fight Tua's Dad Couldn't Stop Watching". Boxing247.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  10. ^ Scott Christ (2014-04-26). "Klitschko vs Leapai results: Wladimir Klitschko dominates again, stops Leapai in five". Badlefthook.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  11. ^ Assciated Press (2006-03-12). "Sturm defeats Masoe in unanimous decision". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  12. ^ "Masoe knocked out in Super Middleweight title fight". RNZ.co.nz. 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  13. ^ Taneka, Taku. "How Good Is Jai Opetaia". Inside Sport. Retrieved 1 Jul 2012.
  14. ^ "David Tua New Zealand Olympian 684". olympic.org.nz. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  15. ^ "Boxer Jimmy 'The Thunder' Peau dies aged 54 after brain surgery". stuff.co.nz. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  16. ^ "Mark Hunt - Official UFC Fighter Profile". ufc.com. UFC. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Hoost king of the K-1 roost". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. Retrieved 20 Apr 2021.
  18. ^ Tiananga, Tamati. "Waikato-Tainui fighter Genah Fabian wins world title". Maori Television. Retrieved 28 Feb 2018.
  19. ^ Edwards, Jim. "Max Holloway Ready to Prove He's Featherweight King". FloCombat. Retrieved 18 Feb 2017.
  20. ^ Payne, Marissa. "UFC 213: Robert Whittaker defeats Yoel Romero to grab interim middleweight belt". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 Apr 2021.
  21. ^ McCarter, Nathan. "GSP Vacates Belt, Champion Robert Whittaker Will Face Luke Rockhold at UFC 221". Bleach Report. Retrieved 21 Apr 2021.
  22. ^ Okamoto, Brett. "Max Holloway claims 'new era' in division with TKO of Jose Aldo". ESPN. Retrieved 21 Apr 2021.
  23. ^ Staff, ESPN. "Robert Whittaker honoured at World MMA Awards". XGames.com. Retrieved 21 Apr 2021.
  24. ^ Starr, Richard. "Super Max". Fighters Only Magazine. Retrieved 21 Apr 2021.
  25. ^ "Video: 'Mighty Mo' knocks out 7-foot-2 giant Hong Man Choi". MMAjunkie. Retrieved 24 Sep 2016.
  26. ^ Robb, Sharon. "Fonoimoana Makes Name For Himself". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 6 Apr 2003.
  27. ^ "Polynesian Islanders In Japanese Sumo". Aloha Valley. Retrieved 30 Jan 2016.
  28. ^ Barbara Dreaver (2017-03-24). "Samoa receives its first Olympic medal after Ukrainian drug cheats exposed". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  29. ^ Ron Flatter Davis. "Louganis never lost drive to dive". espn.go.com. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  30. ^ Nesian Village (2016-02-13). "Profile: Robin Leamy (Olympic Swimmer)". nesianvillage.com. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  31. ^ David Davis (2012-04-05). "Robin Leamy ('86) Follows His Dreams". ucla.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  32. ^ "Tumua Anae". olympic.org. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  33. ^ "A Rio Rundown". independent.com. 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  34. ^ "Rio Olympics 2016: Silver for New Zealand women's rugby sevens team". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 Aug 2016.
  35. ^ "Beatrice Faumuina wins athletics world championship gold". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  36. ^ Robin Chang (2012-06-12). "IFBB Masters Olympia Moving to Miami, Florida". flexonline.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  37. ^ Marty Gallagher (1996-01-01). "Sonny Schmidt: How he won the Masters Olympia". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-04-15.

External links