ARE THESE BODYBUILDERS THE SOLOMONS’ BEST YET?

Solomon Islands’ bodybuilders are fast gaining a reputation as the ones to beat.

A medal rush at the Pacific Games follows months of preparation and work at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS).

The team collected 3 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals at Honiara’s Maranatha Hall on November 27.

The current `Mr Solomons’ Barnabas Waqa collected a gold in the 80-kilogram division.

His work colleagues and boss, Sanjay Bhargava, General Manager of Heritage Park Hotel, were among the high-spirited and vocal crowd cheering him on.

Tome Kelesi from Malaita province picked up gold in the 65-kilogram category, and said his family is very proud.

“When I won that medal, the gold medal, I was very happy,” Tome said.

The athletes faced strong competition from New Caledonia, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.

Aaron Alsop, SINIS Executive Director of High Performance, believes the result could be the team’s best ever.

Corina Dettke, the Solomon Islands’ first female bodybuilder, claimed silver after an impressive performance, despite feeling unwell.

“I’ve actually got a really bad cold… but I did everything I could to stand on stage despite being depleted – no water, no food.”

“This is all I came for. This is all I worked for.”

She’s been hitting the gym for four hours a day for the past 5 months.

“Bodybuilding is kind of a 24/7 kind of sport – sleep, training, recovery, food – everything counts,” she said.

Already she’s planning for her next event, and the next Pacific Games, where she wants to win gold.

“I’ll be heading back into training next year, so there won’t be any drinking, partying or anything – staying dedicated.”

Medal winners:

GOLD
Tome Kelesi – 65kg
Barnabas Waga – 80kg
Allen Atai – 90kg

SILVER
Corina Dettke – 165cm (athletic)
Mustafa Mon Rade – 70kg
Silas Kiu – 75kg
Alpheus Fiuramo – 80kg
David Ama – over 100kg

BRONZE
Yuchen Guo – 165cm (physique)
Holland Diudiu – under 100kg

ENDS//

By Sally Eeles