Samoa has received confirmation that weightlifter Ele Opeloge won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, the country’s first ever Olympic medal.
Opeloge initially finished fourth in the women’s over 75 kg division at the Beijing Games.
But in August, a re-analysis of samples from eight years ago found the silver medallist, Olha Korobka from Ukraine, and bronze medallist, Mariya Grabovetskaya from Kazakhstan, tested positive for banned substances.
Korobka’s provisional suspension was confirmed by the International Olympic Committee in October, ensuring Opeloge a podium finish.
The President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Tuaopepe Vui Asiata Jerry Wallwork, said news of the official results was posted on the International Weightlifting Federation’s website.
Tuaopepe said Samoa was now waiting on the medal.
He said his Federation together with the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and the Oceania National Olympic Committee are pushing for the medal to be sent at the earliest.
He said this was history for Samoa and the weightlifting family.
