Social, Sports

Meet the uncontested woman champion of Samoan longboat racing

Zita Martel is a Pacific renaissance woman whose colourful, bold and courageous life serves as an inspiration to women and men in her native Samoa and beyond. In 2001, she became the first and only woman skipper to take up longboat racing, a traditional Polynesian sport reserved for men and where she still wins many of the races to this day. Her mastery of this … Continue reading Meet the uncontested woman champion of Samoan longboat racing

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Politics, Sports

She made French Polynesia a strong nation in athletics

Titaua Juventin is a long-serving and respected member of the athletics community in the Pacific. She has a broad background in teaching and coaching, having worked in teacher training with the Ministry of Education in Tahiti. Ms Juventin’s passion is athletics, especially with young people and children. She successfully adapted the International Association of Athletics (IAAF) Federation’s children’s program in Tahiti and also introduced a … Continue reading She made French Polynesia a strong nation in athletics

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Culture, Sports

Say welcome to Heke, our new mascot!

This shy octopus is Heke, our new mascot. Everybody say hi! His name comes from the Rapa Nui word for “octopus”, similar to fe’e, feke or ‘eke in other Polynesian langage. And Heke sounded pretty good, so we kept it! Heke is pretty cute, but also very sporty and quite the model. Below you can see him on an outrigger, as an All Black rugby player, … Continue reading Say welcome to Heke, our new mascot!

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Events, Sports

First Vahine Cup highlights young Tahitian champions

It was a first time event for the Vahine Cup, an annual open surf contest for women that happened in Tahiti, French Polynesia, over the course of the week-end. A great success with candidates coming from all over the island to compete in a relaxed & joyful but determined Pacifican Spirit. The event took place on the beach break of Taharuu, located on the southwest … Continue reading First Vahine Cup highlights young Tahitian champions

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Social, Sports

Billabong Pro: the surf stars offer 90 backpacks to Tahitian kids

Last week, the island of Tahiti hosted one of the 11 events of the WSL Men’s Championship Tour, surf’s main title, on the Teahupo’o reef spot. But just before the competition, the organisation received an irresistible request from the local town: local kids needed backpacks for the beginning of the school year and the municipality didn’t have the money… The WSL Hawaii, with its president Jody Wilmott, … Continue reading Billabong Pro: the surf stars offer 90 backpacks to Tahitian kids

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Culture, Sports

Does this 20,000 years old footprint belong to the fastest man in History?

This footprint (picture from National Geographic) could belong to the fastest man in our known history. It was left by an Aboriginal hunter who crossed a muddy wetland in New South Wales some 20,000 years ago, with four friends. This wetland is now dried out and belongs to the Mungo National Park. It is studied since 2003, when it was spotted between sand dunes by Mary … Continue reading Does this 20,000 years old footprint belong to the fastest man in History?

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Social, Sports

The Fijian Women’s National Rugby team shows the men how it’s done

The Fijian Women’s National Rugby Team Fijiana made history in 2016 when they became the first women’s rugby team from the Pacific region to qualify for the Rio Olympics. They were only one of 12 national teams in the world to qualify to complete in the women’s rugby sevens competition at Rio despite facing countless adversities to get there. Fijiana’s journey is representative of women’s … Continue reading The Fijian Women’s National Rugby team shows the men how it’s done

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Politics, Sports

Baklai Temengil: a woman of sports and convictions

Since being appointed Palau’s Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs in 2013, Minister Baklai Temengil has utilised her platform to advocate for gender equality and fight for the empowerment of women in the western Pacific nation. She has taken on issues such as the lack of elected women in government as well as domestic violence and has helped to establish services to help victims. In … Continue reading Baklai Temengil: a woman of sports and convictions

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Sports

Lanja made her passion for Athletics her job

At only 22, Trienssa Lanja Fritz has already been involved in the sport of athletics for many years, first as a high performance sprinter representing Nauru at international meets and as a development officer with Nauru Athletics Association since 2016. As an athlete, Lanja represented Nauru in the Pacific School Games in Canberra in 2008, the Oceania Championships in Gold Coast 2009, Cook Islands 2014, … Continue reading Lanja made her passion for Athletics her job

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