Opeloge moves up Olympic rankings at Oceania Championships. GETTY IMAGES

Don Opeloge broke records and made a significant step forward in the Paris 2024 rankings when he won the 102 kg title for Samoa at the Oceania Championships held in Auckland, New Zealand, from February 21 to 25, the IWF official website reports.

Opeloge had a total of 390 kg (175+215) and was even aiming for 400 kg, but failed with 180 kg in the snatch and 220 kg in the clean and jerk. The 24-year-old improved from 16th to 9th place and is now in a good position in the Olympic rankings. 

Australia's Kiana Elliott also moved up the rankings, finishing ahead of her rival Mattie Sasser (Marshall Islands) in the 59 kg category. Elliott and Sasser are both ranked in the top 20 and will meet at the IWF World Cup in Phuket for a continental qualifying spot. 

Sasser, who lifted for the Marshall Islands at Rio 2016 and is back with her country after a spell competing for the USA, has the advantage with a best total of 214 kg.

Don Opeloge with the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. GETTY IMAGES
Don Opeloge with the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. GETTY IMAGES

Sasser snatched an Oceania record of 98 kg to take a 1 kg lead. Elliott turned the tables and won with a 97+114=211, 3 kg better in the rankings. She would have overtaken Sasser had she made her final attempt at 118 kg. 

New Zealand's Hayley Whiting won the women's 81 kg with a total of 197 kg, while the main contender, Eileen Cikamatana of Australia, failed with three attempts at 113 kg. Cikamatana, however, remains fifth in the rankings and can rest assured of her Olympic quota. 

Kyle Bruce (Australia) won the gold medal in the men's 89 kg category with a total of 328 kg. Sarah Cochrane, also from Australia, won the women's 71 kg with a total of 209 kg.

Dika Toua won her 15th title at the age of 40. GETTY IMAGES
Dika Toua won her 15th title at the age of 40. GETTY IMAGES

David Liti of New Zealand won the men's super-heavyweight category with a total of 413 kg. Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa was the best in the women's super-heavyweight with a total of 265 kg. 

Sisters Dika and Thelma Toua of Papua New Guinea were crowned champions in the women's 49 and 45 kg categories. Dika, 40, won her 15th title and her daughter, Ani Guavera, won gold in the women's -40kg category on the same day. All three won their gold medals on the same day. Dika's cousin Morea Baru won the men's 61 kg with a total of 262 kg. 

Solomon Islands' Jenly Wini, 40, won the women's 55 kg for the ninth time in a row, while 14-year-old Femily Notte (Nauru) was the best in the women's -64 kg. Avatu Opeloge of Samoa was the women's -76kg champion.