Koror, Palau - The refurbished stadium, provided the perfect backdrop for what proved to be one of the most action-packed days of competition yet at the 12th Pacific Mini Games.

French Polynesia's powerhouse team secured four additional gold medals, bringing their impressive tally to 51 gold, 30 silver, and 17 bronze medals for a total of 98 medals. Table tennis star Kelley Tehahetua secured gold in the female singles, while Vincent Tehei triumphed in the wheelchair singles (Class 1-5) male division. The Va'a teams continued their maritime mastery, sweeping both the V6 Marathon 24km events in male and female categories.

Team Samoa delivered a spectacular performance, adding 11 gold medals to maintain their second-place position with 23 gold, 10 silver, and 17 bronze medals for a total of 50. The standout moment came from Iorana Tafafo Tafili, who threw an impressive 54.13m.

Weightlifting proved to be Samoa's fortress, with Seine Stowers claiming a remarkable triple gold medal haul, matched by Emmaul Palota Ulimasao's own three-gold performance. Jack Opelogue added two more golds to Samoa's growing collection.

Australia made an immediate impact on the track and field events, with Charlize Goody soaring to victory in the female javelin throw, edging out teammate Isabelle Cruickshank in a thrilling Australian one-two finish. Aden McDonald claimed gold in the long jump, showcasing the depth of Australian athletics talent.

The weightlifting platform also proved fruitful for Australia, where Eileen Cikamatana dominated with a clean sweep in the clean and jerk, snatch, and total events. Australia closed day 5 with 17 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze medals for a total of 35.

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While Fiji sits fourth on the medal table with 15 gold, 23 silver, and 17 bronze medals, day 5 belonged to weightlifting phenomenon Nehemiah Elder. The young powerhouse delivered one of the most extraordinary performances in Pacific Mini Games history, setting an astounding nine records in a single competition.

Elder's remarkable achievements included:

155kg snatch - setting new Oceania Youth, Junior, Senior, and Pacific Mini Games records

175kg clean and jerk - establishing a new Pacific Mini Games record

330kg total - claiming new Oceania Youth, Junior, Senior, and Pacific Mini Games records

The performance left spectators and fellow athletes in awe, cementing Elder's place in Pacific sporting folklore.

Fiji also celebrated success in the pool with David Young's victory in the 50m freestyle, while Merewalesi Roden continued her winning streak in tennis wheelchair singles (Class 1-5).

The Northern Mariana Islands maintained their fifth-place position with 9 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze medals for a total of 23 medals.

The excitement continues Saturday, July 5, with a packed schedule featuring volleyball, weightlifting, open water swimming, softball, baseball, and more athletics action. All eyes will be on the much anticipated 100m sprint events, promising to deliver more thrilling moments as the Pacific's fastest athletes battle for supremacy.

As the Palau National Track and Field Stadium prepares to host another day of world-class competition, the 2025 Pacific Mini Games continues to showcase the incredible depth of talent across the region, with records falling and new heroes emerging daily.

Games Calendar – Schedule

Games Results - Tally

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For more information about the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, visit;

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