Logona Esau (born 2 March 1987 on

Nukufetau Nukufetau is an atoll that is part of the nation of Tuvalu. The atoll was claimed by the US under the Guano Islands Act some time in the 19th century and was ceded in a treaty of friendship concluded in 1979 and coming into force in 1983. It has a ...

) is a

Tuvalu Tuvalu ( or ; formerly known as the Ellice Islands) is an island country and microstate in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Its islands are situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia. They lie east-northeast ...

an weightlifter.

Biography

He was the first athlete from Tuvalu to win a medal at an international competition, when he took bronze in the 62 kg combined event at the

2005 South Pacific Mini Games The VII South Pacific Mini Games were held July 25-August 4, 2005 in Palau. Torch lighter was athlete Christopher Silas Adolf, Palau's first Olympian. Participating countries Tahiti and Tokelau did not send teams to the games, with Tahiti cit ...

Koror Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island (also ''Oreor Island''). It is Palau’s most populous state. History In the oral tradition ...

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

. As of 2006, he was ranked 132nd in the world by the International Weightlifting Federation. In 2007, he won silver in the men's 69 kg

clean and jerk The clean and jerk is a composite of two weightlifting movements, most often performed with a barbell: the clean and the jerk. During the ''clean'', the lifter moves the barbell from the floor to a racked position across the deltoids, without res ...

at the Pacific Games in

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

, lifting 141 kg. In August 2008, he took part in the World Weightlifting Championships. Esau represented

Tuvalu at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Tuvalu was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 5-member strong contingent comprising 4 sportspersons and 1 official. Tuvalu entered competitors in shooting, table tennis and weightlifting. 2006 marked Tuvalu's third partic ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

and also represented

Tuvalu at the 2008 Summer Olympics Tuvalu competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, from 8 to 24 August 2008. This was the nation's first ever appearance in an Olympic Game. The delegation included two track and field athletes and one weightlifter. Okilani Tinilau ...

. The

2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

was the first

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...

, in which Tuvalu participated. Esau finished 23rd in his event. Esau was Tuvalu's

flagbearer A standard-bearer, also known as a flag-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem known as a standard or military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a f ...

during the Games'

opening ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly-constructed location or the start of an event.

."Tuvaluan lifter Esau looks forward to Olympic debut"
Xinhua, 7 August 2008

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Esau, Logona 1987 births Living people Tuvaluan male weightlifters Weightlifters at the 2008 Summer Olympics Olympic weightlifters for Tuvalu Commonwealth Games competitors for Tuvalu Weightlifters at the 2014 Commonwealth Games