Sanitesi Latu (born 22 December 1950) is a former Tongan

Athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

who has represented Tonga at the Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, and Pacific Mini Games. Latu was born in Toloa on the island on Tongatapu. He competed in the

1969 South Pacific Games The 1969 South Pacific Games, held from 13–23 August 1969 at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, was the third edition of the South Pacific Games. A total of 1,150 athletes participated in the games. Participating countries Twelve Pacific nations ...

in Port Moresby as a high jumper, without success. At the

1971 South Pacific Games The 1971 South Pacific Games, held at Papeete in Tahiti from 25 August to 5 September 1971, was the fourth edition of the South Pacific Games. Approximately 1,500 male athletes and 500 female athletes participated in the games. Participating co ...

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The Communes of France, commune of Papeete is located on the isl ...

he won bronze in the

Decathlon The decathlon is a combined event in Athletics (sport), athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek language, Greek δέκα (''déka'', meaning "ten") and ...

. He then competed in the

1974 British Commonwealth Games The 1974 British Commonwealth Games ( mi, 1974 Taumāhekeheke Commonwealth) were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. The Games were off ...

in Christchurch, New Zealand, coming 5th in the decathlon. After the Commonwealth Games he moved to Melbourne,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, where he worked as a storeman and gained permanent residency. He contested the

1975 South Pacific Games The 1975 South Pacific Games, held in Guam from 1 to 10 August 1975, was the fifth edition of the South Pacific Games. A total of 1,205 athletes (907 men and 298 women) participated in a rain-affected games which had only one clear day out of the ...

in Tumon, Guam, winning gold in both the

110 metres hurdles The 110 metres hurdles, or 110-metre hurdles, is a hurdling track and field event for men. It is included in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympic Games. The female counterpart is the 100 metres hurdles. As part of a racing event, ten hur ...

and the Decathlon. In 1974 and 1978 he was Australian champion in the decathlon. His Australian residency meant he was unable to compete in the

1979 South Pacific Games The 1979 South Pacific Games, held at Suva in Fiji from 28 August to 8 September 1979, was the sixth edition of the South Pacific Games. Participating countries Nineteen Pacific nations or territories attended: Sports There were 18 sports co ...

. At the

1982 Commonwealth Games The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...

he retired from the decathlon. At the

1985 South Pacific Mini Games The 1985 South Pacific Mini Games were held at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands from 31 July to 9 August 1985. It was the second edition of the South Pacific Mini Games. The new stadium built for the games had a grass track but several South Pacif ...

Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 13,007 of a total population of 17,434. The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings a ...

he won gold in the shot put and bronze in the discus. At the

1987 South Pacific Games The 1987 South Pacific Games, held from 8–20 December 1987 at Nouméa in New Caledonia, was the eight edition of the South Pacific Games. Political events of the time affected the Games in 1987 and the number of competitors were down. Fiji had t ...

in Nouméa he won bronze in the shot put. At the

1989 South Pacific Mini Games The 1989 South Pacific Mini Games were held at Nuku'alofa in Tonga from 22 August to 1 September 1989. It was the third edition of the South Pacific Mini Games. Tonga's national stadium, the Teufaiva Sport Stadium, was built for the Games on the ...

in Nukuʻalofa he won bronze in the shot put. In December 2009 he was inducted into the Tonga National Sports Hall of Fame.

Honours

;National honours * The_Most_Illustrious_Order_of_Queen_Salote_Tupou_III_Member

Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III The ''Most Illustrious'' Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III is a knighthood order of the Kingdom of Tonga. History The Order was established on 28 June 2008 by His Late Majesty King George Tupou V to commemorate the grand figure of his grandmot ...

, Member (31 July 2008).

References

Living people 1950 births Sportspeople from Tongatapu Members of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III Tongan decathletes Tongan hurdlers Tongan shot putters Tongan discus throwers Athletes (track and field) at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games competitors for Tonga Pacific Games gold medalists for Tonga Pacific Games bronze medalists for Tonga Pacific Games medalists in athletics {{Tonga-athletics-bio-stub