Meamea Thomas

Meamea Thomas (born 11 September 1987 in Tarawa,[1] died c. 23 June 2013)[2] was an I-Kiribati weightlifter.

Meamea Thomas
Personal information
Born(1987-09-11)11 September 1987
Died23 June 2013(2013-06-23) (aged 25)
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
Country Kiribati
SportWeightlifting
Medal record
Weightlifting
South Pacific Games
2003 Suva 85kg
2003 Suva
2011 Nouméa

Thomas represented Kiribati in the men's 85 kg event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was, at that time, ranked 63rd in the world.[3] He finished 13th, having lifted 292.5 kg.[4] He was also his country's flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony.[5] He had previously won gold in the same event at the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva.[3] He did not take part in the 2008 Olympics.[6]

In all, he won two gold medals at the 2003 South Pacific Games, and three at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.[7] He won silver at the 2011 Pacific Games, and was twice Oceania Champion: in 2004 and 2010.[2]

On or around 23 June 2013, he was killed in an accident in his home country, at the age of 25. He saw a bicycle rider about to be hit by a speeding car, and pushed the rider to safety. He was hit instead, and died instantly. The driver of the car was drunk.[8] Paul Coffa, General Secretary of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, paid tribute to his heroism in sacrificing himself to save a life.[2]

References
  1. Kiribati athletes at the 2004 Olympics Archived 2011-08-25 at the Wayback Machine, Kiribati National Olympic Committee
  2. "In Memoriam: MEAMEA THOMAS 1987-2013", Oceania Sport Information Centre, 24 June 2013
  3. "Kiribati's Olympic adventure", Andrew Fraser, BBC, August 3, 2004
  4. "Day 8 Weightlifting Schedule & Results", Sydney Morning Herald
  5. "Kiribati in first Olympic Games Opening Ceremony" Archived 2008-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, Kiribati National Olympic Committee, August 14, 2004
  6. "Kiribati sends three athletes to Beijing Olympics" Archived 2008-08-24 at the Wayback Machine, Xinhua, 5 August 2008
  7. "Meamea Thomas - Kiribati", 2010 Oceania Weightlifting Championships
  8. Grasso, John; Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (May 14, 2015). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Rowman & Littlefield.



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