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
Gold medal – first place 2003 Suva 85kg
Gold medal – first place 2003 Suva
Silver medal – second place 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 a crash 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" Archived 2013-12-07 at the Wayback Machine, 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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