Pacific Athletes take on Paris 2024 Paralympics

The Paris 2024 Paralympics kick off 29th August 6:00am NZST (28th Aug 1pm CT, USA) and for the first time ever there will be 13 Pacific athletes competing.

The record breaking Pacific registration was celebrated by the Oceania Paralympic Committee who remarked that ‘this moment represented years of preparation, sacrifice and determination.”

The Pacific cohort boasts representation from 6 pacific nations - Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati.

The 13 strong Pacific athlete squad consists of 7 women and 6 men competing across the para-taekwando and the para-athletics.

Kiribati’s attendance at the games marks as a historical moment in the country’s history as Timeou Ongiou, a para-shotputter, becomes Kiribati’s first ever Paralympic athlete!

Papua New Guinea’s The National quoted President of the Oceania Paralympic Committee Paul Bird saying “our athletes have arrived with one mission and that is to perform at their best and represent their nations and the Oceania region with pride, courage, and excellence.”

“They will compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and showcase the incredible talent and determination that exists within the Pacific. We are all incredibly proud and excited for what’s to come.”

Tonga will be represented by para-discus athlete Meleane Vasitai Leaaepeni Falemaka. She is the only Pacific athlete competing in the para-discus sport. Falemaka “encourage[s] others who are disabled to join activities set up for them like Para sports because it can give them, as I feel now, a new life."

Fiji para-taekwondo athlete Irene Mar took up the sport inspired by her father who was also a taekwondin. She will be joined by two fellow team Fiji athletes who will be competing in para-shot-put.

Team Vanuatu also features a shot-putter, Elie Enock. Enock is joined by her team mate and javelin thrower Ken Kahu who will bear the Vanuatu flag in the Paralympic opening ceremony. Kahu is ranked amongst the worlds top 10 para-javelin throwers and has won multiple titles including silver at the Darwin Arafura Games (2019) and silver at the Honiara Pacific Games (2023).

Para-taekwondo’s presence is unmatched in teams Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, with PNG’s two-strong squad both competing in the code and three out of four Solomon Islands athletes being taekwondin.

The final of the 13 Pacific athletes is Solomon Islands javelin thrower Cosmo Maefolia. Maefolia alongside his three para-taekwondin teammates make up the Solomon Islands squad of 4 - the largest Pacific national squad at this Paralympics.

While in Paris vying for their various Olympic titles, fairness will be ensured by grouping the athletes according to the effect their impairment has on their ability to compete in their respective sports.

As our athletes represent the Pacific on the world stage let’s, all of the Pacific, unite in cheering them on! Best of luck to you all team Pacifc!

- Written by Teherenui Koteka