Solomon Islands at the 2020 Summer Olympics

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Solomon Islands at the
2020 Summer Olympics
IOC codeSOL
NOCNational Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands
Websitewww.oceaniasport.com/solomon
in Tokyo
23 July 2021 (2021-07-23) – 8 August 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors3 (1 man and 2 women) in 3 sports
Flag bearers (opening)Sharon Firisua
Edgar Iro
Flag bearer (closing)Mary Kini Lifu
Officials4 (3 men and 1 woman)
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Solomon Islands competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's participation in Tokyo marked its tenth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1984.

The Solomon Islands delegation consisted of three athletes: long-distance runner Sharon Firisua, swimmer Edgar Iro, and weightlifter Mary Kini Lifu. Firisua and Iro qualified through universality slots given by World Athletics and FINA respectively, while Lifu qualified by being the highest ranked Oceanian athlete in her category per the rankings given by the International Weightlifting Federation. Firisua and Iro were the flagbearers for the opening ceremony, while Lifu solely held the flag at the closing ceremony. All three athletes did not medal, and as of these Games, Solomon Islands has yet to earn an Olympic medal. Although not earning a medal, the nation's participation at these Games served as a learning ground for their hosting of the 2023 Pacific Games.

Background[edit]

Nauruan athlete Jonah Harris infront of the IOC chartered airplane where the four delegations rode in

Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] This edition of the Games marked the nation's tenth appearance at the Summer Olympics ever since they debuted at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, California, United States.[2] The nation planned to use the Games as a learning opportunity for their hosting of the 2023 Pacific Games, to be held in the city of Honiara.[3]

Travel[edit]

A coordination with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) of Nauru, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu, and Nauru Airlines, used the airline to charter two flights with four national delegations, namely: Nauru, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu, with a technical stop in Chuuk State of the Federated States of Micronesia, for travel to Tokyo due to precautions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Delegations from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu were brought to Nauru on 19 July 2021, while the following day saw all of the delegations' departure to the Haneda Airport in Tokyo.[4]

Edgar Iro was the only person in the Solomon Islands delegation to not take part in the IOC chartered flight. He flew in the same week of their departure, flying from Thailand.[5]

Delegation[edit]

The Solomon Islands delegation was composed of nine people. Officials present were National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) president Martin Rara, NOCSI delegation general secretary Melinda Avosa, technical director Apollos Saeg, who was also called to be the weightlifting head coach,[6] and chef de mission and Japanese government volunteer Naoyuki Fujiyama.[7] Fujiyama's role in the delegation was controversial after multiple calls from Solomon Islands national sports federations for him to step down from his position due to alleged corruption and fraud, and the fact that he had breached the constitution of the NOCSI that "restricted non-citizens from participating in the administration of sports matters in Solomon Islands", as he was only a resident of the nation and not a citizen.[8]

Coaches present were athletics head coach and two-time Olympian Francis Manioru, swimming head coach Stance Sanga, and Saeg. The athletes that competed were long-distance runner and 2016 Olympian Sharon Firisua, who competed in the women's marathon, swimmer Edgar Iro, who competed in the men's 100 m freestyle, and weightlifter Mary Kini Lifu, who competed in the women's 55 kg category.[6] Weightlifter and two-time Olympian Jenly Tegu Wini was also expected to compete for the nation in the women's 59 kg category,[9] but did not qualify after not tallying enough points for the rankings.[10]

The Solomon Islands delegation, besides Iro, returned to the nation 13 August 2021, after an act was signed by prime minister Manasseh Sogavare that allowed them to return to the country due to measures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Opening and closing ceremonies[edit]

The Solomon Islands delegation marched 101st out of 206 countries in the 2020 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations within the opening ceremony, due to the host's use of the local kana alphabetical system.[a] Firisua and Iro held the flag for the delegation in the ceremony.[6][12] At the closing ceremony, Lifu was the designated flagbearer for the nation.[13]

Competitors[edit]

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.

Sport Men Women Total
Athletics 0 1 1
Swimming 1 0 1
Weightlifting 0 1 1
Total 1 2 3

Athletics[edit]

Main articles: Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification
Firisua at the last Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the women's 5000 metres event

Solomon Islands received a universality slot from World Athletics to send a female athlete to the Olympics.[14] The nation selected long-distance runner and national record holder Sharon Firisua, who would be the first person from a Pacific Island nation to compete in the women's marathon at any edition of the Games. Firisua also competed in the last Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,[15] where she competed in the women's 5000 metres and placed 15th in her heat and not advancing to the final.[16] Before the Games, Firisua and her team aimed her to beat her own personal best of 3:08:56 and possibly run a time under 3 hours, targeting a time of 2:55:00.[17]

Firisua was the last Pacific athlete to compete at the Games.[17] She competed in her event on 7 August 2021 at 6:00 p.m.,[18] in Sapporo, Hokkaido, instead of Tokyo, after a decision made and approved by the International Olympic Committee.[19] She ran a time of 3:02:10, setting a new national record,[20] finishing 72nd out of 73 finishers and 88 overall competitors. Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya took the gold.[21]

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 Final
Result Rank
Sharon Firisua Women's marathon 3:02:10 NR 72

Swimming[edit]

Main articles: Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification
Iro (right) at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre with other swimmers

Solomon Islands received a universality invitation from FINA to send a male top-ranked swimmer in his respective individual events to the Olympics, based on the FINA Points System of June 28, 2021.[22] The nation picked swimmer Edgar Iro, who competed in the men's 100 metre freestyle.[23] Before the Games, Iro trained for his event, in Thailand.[5] He was the first ever swimmer to compete for Solomon Islands at the Olympic Games.[24]

Iro competed in his event on 27 July 2021, in the first heat in the seventh lane. He finished second to last in his heat[b] and placed last overall out of all of the finishers, finishing with a time of 1:00.13.[23] Caeleb Dressel of the United States took the gold with an Olympic record-setting time of 47.02.[26][27]

Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Edgar Iro Men's 100 m freestyle 1:00.13 70 Did not advance

Weightlifting[edit]

Main articles: Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Solomon Islands entered one female weightlifter into Olympic competition. Mary Kini Lifu topped the list of weightlifters from Oceania in the women's 55 kg category based on the IWF Absolute Continental Rankings.[28] Weightlifter and two-time Olympian Jenly Tegu Wini was also expected to compete for the nation in the women's 59 kg category,[9] but did not qualify after not tallying enough points for the rankings.[10] The lead-up to the Games saw Lifu's participation at the 2019 Pacific Games held in Apia, Samoa, where she won the gold in the same event.[29] Before the Games, Lifu was granted an IOC scholarship, which helped her train at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in New Caledonia. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was sent back to her country but was then stranded at Nauru for three months due to regulations brought on by it.[30]

But I would like to encourage women to take up sports. Sports is not all about winning and it's not only for men, sport is for all.

Mary Kini Lifu, Kini Eyes Sharing Olympic Experience with Youths[30]

Lifu competed in her event on 26 July 2021 at 4:50 p.m. in the B Group.[29] She lifted 64 kilograms for her first attempt in the snatch; she then failed 67 kilograms for her second attempt, then was successful in her third attempt at the same weight. She then lifted 84 kilograms for her first attempt in the clean and jerk; she then lifted 87 kilograms successfully for her second attempt, then failed at her third attempt at 90 kilograms. She placed last out of 14 competitors.[31] The gold medal was earned by Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines, setting new Olympic records in the clean and jerk, lifting 127 kilograms, and in the total with 224 kilograms.[32]

The nation has one of the worst cases of gender inequality and domestic violence in the world, with 64% of women aged 15–49 having reported physical and/or sexual abuse by a partner.[33][34] Lifu stated "the province I came [sic] from is male dominated, women are sometimes not allowed to take up sports because of cultural beliefs." Her performance in sport was hailed by NOCSI president Martin Rara, who said it would be a "statement for women back in the nation", stating that it could bring to light the experiences faced by women in a male-dominant nation.[30] She taught young lifters ideas and techniques from experience she learned at the Games from other lifters upon her return to the nation.[35]

Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank
Result Rank Result Rank
Mary Kini Lifu Women's 55 kg 67 14 87 14 154 14

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Japanese: ソロモン諸島, romanized: Soromon shotō[12]
  2. ^ Swimmer Matt Richards of Great Britain did not start.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". International Olympic Committee. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Solomon Islands Overview". Olympedia. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Rara using Tokyo Olympics to inform SOL 2023 Pacific Games". Oceania National Olympic Committees. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Joint IOC and Nauru effort ensures four Pacific islands NOCs' passage to Tokyo". Oceania National Olympic Committees. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b Aruafu, Carlos (20 July 2021). "Olympic duo departs". Solomon Star. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Iroga, Robert (24 July 2021). "Firisua leads Team Solomon as Tokyo Olympic Games opens". Solomon Business Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee hosts Chefs de Mission Seminar in Tokyo this week". Oceania National Olympic Committees. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  8. ^ Aruafu, Carlos (2 October 2019). "Fujiyama told to step down". Solomon Star. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Two Female Weightlifters Selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Isles Media. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b "IWF Absolute Ranking List" (PDF). International Weightlifting Federation. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  11. ^ Sogavare, Manasseh (13 August 2021). "Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Prohibition of Entry) (No. 2) Order 2021 Exception For Entry" (PDF). Government of Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands Gazette. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony Flag Bearers Marching Order" (PDF). NPR. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  13. ^ "List of flagbearers for the 205 NOCs and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Qualification (Athletics)". World Athletics. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  15. ^ "From lucky shoes to Olympic trailblazer: Solomon Islands athlete pushes for Pacific Games gold". The Guardian. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  16. ^ "2016 Summer Olympics Women's 5000m Overall Standings". Rio 2016 Organising Committee. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Tokyo 2020: Solomon's runner hopes to beat personal best at marathon". Radio New Zealand. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Athletics Competition Schedule". Tokyo 2020. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  19. ^ Sugino, Kentaro (16 October 2019). 東京五輪マラソンと競歩、札幌での実施を計画…ＩＯＣ [Tokyo Olympics Marathon and Walking Race planned to be held in Sapporo — IOC]. Yomiuri Shimbun. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  20. ^ Nolan, Jimmy (17 August 2021). "Going Beyond Our Personal Best". Solomon Times. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Athletics Women's Marathon Results". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Tokyo Olympics Entry Lists Released, Swimming Begins July 24". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b "A Dream Come True: Edgar's Journey to the Tokyo Olympic". Isles Media. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Solomon Islands in Swimming". Olympedia. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Heats results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Final results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  27. ^ Goodman, Eric (28 July 2021). "Caeleb Dressel sets Olympic record in 100 free, wins first individual gold". NBC Olympics. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  28. ^ "IWF Absolute Ranking List" (PDF). International Weightlifting Federation. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Tokyo 2020 Day Three: Pacific Athletes - Who to watch and when". Radio New Zealand. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  30. ^ a b c "Lifu shares her journey to Tokyo". Oceania National Olympic Committees. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Weightlifting | Women's 55kg | Results" (PDF). TOCOG. 26 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  32. ^ Ochoa, Francis (27 July 2021). "Olympic record lift marks first time Hidilyn Diaz did 127kg". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  33. ^ Ming, Mikaela A.; Stewart, Molly G.; Tiller, Rose E.; Rice, Rebecca G.; Crowley, Louise E.; Williams, Nicola J. (2016). "Domestic violence in the Solomon Islands". Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 5 (1): 16–19. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.184617. ISSN 2249-4863. PMC 4943125. PMID 27453837.
  34. ^ "WHO 2011 report on gender based violence report in the Solomon Islands" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Kini Eyes Sharing Olympic Experience with Youths". Isles Media. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
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