Rainibogi named best male athlete at Pacific Games

Team Fiji’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony Taniela Rainibogi has been named the best male athlete of the 2023 Pacific Games. Rainibogi won 3 gold medals in the 109kg weightlifting competition.

This was announced at the Closing Ceremony yesterday.

He is currently in Qatar to compete in the Weightlifting Grand Prix with the hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

The best female athlete is another weightlifter, Jenly Wini from Solomon Islands.

40-year-old Wini won the first medal of the Games and won three in total.

With 21 gold, 30 silver and 40 bronze medals, Fiji finished sixth of the medal tally.

New Caledonia won the Pacific Games with 82 gold, 57 silver and 58 bronze while Tahiti came second with 57 gold, 53 silver and 50 bronze medals.

The next Pacific Games will be held in Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia in August 2027.