Tuvalu at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Tuvalu competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The country's participation at Rio de Janeiro marked its third consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 2008. The delegation included a single track and field athlete: sprinter Etimoni Timuani. Etimoni was also the nation's flagbearer in the Parade of Nations. He did not progress past the first round of his men's 100 metres competition.

Tuvalu at the
2016 Summer Olympics
IOC codeTUV
NOCTuvalu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee
Websitewww.oceaniasport.com/tuvalu
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors1 in 1 sport
Flag bearer Etimoni Timuani
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Background

Tuvalu participated in three Summer Olympics between its debut in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was the fewest competitors Tuvalu has ever sent, and the only delegate to send one competitor in these Olympics. Tuvalu has sent 3 competitors in their other two appearances.[1] No Tuvaluan has ever won a medal at the Olympics. As he was the only competitor, Etimoni was the one to bear the flag.[2][3] He qualified via a universality slot from the International Association of Athletics Federations.[2][4]

Athletics
Main articles: Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Tuvalu has received a universality slot from IAAF to send a male athlete to the Olympics.[2][4] Former footballer turned sprinter Etimoni Timuani made his debut at the Games.[5] However, he has also previously participated in the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea and the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing.[6][7] Before the event, Tuvalu's assistant secretary of the Ministry of Education Tufoua Panapa said "we’re one of the smallest countries. He just makes us bigger than that," and that "he makes us proud." Panapo also said "it’s just a great motivation for the younger ones."[7] Timuani finished 7th in his heat with a time of 11.81 seconds, failing to qualify for the semifinals.[8]

Etimoni Timuani competed in the men's 100 m as the single athlete from Tuvalu, the only NOC to send one athlete to the 2016 Games.
Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Etimoni Timuani Men's 100 m 11.81[9] 7 Did not advance

References
  1. "Olympic History of Tuvalu". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  2. Stewart, Megan (28 July 2016). "Table for one? Meet the 10 smallest delegations at Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  3. "The Underdogs: 15 Olympic Athletes That Could Shock the World". Rolling Stone. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  4. "IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Rio 2016 Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  5. "2015 Pacific Games - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea". pg2015.gems.pro. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  6. "100 Metres Men - Preliminary Round" (PDF). IAAF (PDF). Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. Maese, Soong, Rick, Kelyn (13 August 2016). "Only one country sent a single athlete to Rio: 'Right now he's an ambassador'". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Results - Mens 100m - Athletics - Rio 2016 - Olympics". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  9. "Men's 100m - Standings". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
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