Elizabeth Osifelo/PACNEWS

Introduced to multiple sports by her father, Iakopo's heart has always been with track and field.

"I felt a lot of pressure going into the Olympic Games, wondering if I would break my personal best and set a new national record."

"Now that I did it, I'm so grateful and thankful."

"I am so blessed to be here at the Olympics and to have achieved this," she said.

Reflecting on her achievement, Filomenaleonisa expressed her excitement.

"Being in the stadium and seeing the crowd brought a different kind of adrenaline rush through my body," she said.

She reminded herself to stay focused and remember who she is running for and that she is representing American Samoa.

Iakopo emphasized that she never took coming to the Olympics for granted, knowing the magnitude and important role she plays for her country and family.

Over the past year, she trained hard, and stepping out on the track at the Stade de France for the Women's 100 Preliminary Round, all she could think about was staying focused and executing what her body was trained to do.

Iakopo thanked the American Samoa Athletics Federation and her coaches for their support and motivation throughout her journey to Paris 2024.