Koror, Palau - The transition from competitor to coach appears to be a natural progression for many Oceania athletes. Papua New Guinea's Sapolai Yao exemplifies this journey perfectly. The former steeplechase champion, who claimed gold at the Pacific Games in 2007 and 2015, along with silver medals in 2011 and 2019, has seamlessly moved into a coaching role with Team PNG.

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"As a former national representative from 1999 to 2019, I want to give back to develop the next generation of runners. Hopefully these athletes learn and develop their talent," Yao explained in a recent interview with PNG's The National newspaper.

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Yao's impressive career included victories in the 5000m and 10000m at the 2005 Mini Games, multiple Oceania Championships titles, and representation at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2015 World Championships. His wealth of experience now benefits PNG's emerging athletes.

The trend extends far beyond PNG. Fiji's sprint legend Vaciseva Tavaga, who captured three gold medals in the sprints during the 1991, 1993, and 1995 Pacific Games and was inducted into the Fiji Sporting Hall of Fame in 2015, is now sharing her expertise as a coach with her national team.

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In an interesting cross-cultural exchange, Fiji's Albert Miller, a three-time Pacific Games Decathlon champion (1983, 1987, 1991), is lending his coaching expertise to host nation Palau. Miller's distinguished career included competing at three Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992) and induction into the Fiji Sporting Hall of Fame in 2007.

The transition is particularly poignant in swimming, where Fiji's Cheyenne Rova represents a new generation of athlete-turned-administrator. Now serving as team manager for Fiji's swimming squad, Rova candidly shared her feelings about the role reversal.

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"It makes you miss the whole athlete part but I am really happy just to give back to the sport," Rova reflected. "This is the first time for swimming to be a part of the mini games. We have gone to multiple pacific games but this is my first for the mini games, so I am really excited and so are the swimmers."

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International swimming coach Brian Goodell, himself an Olympic gold medalist who now works with Pacific athletes, emphasized the psychological benefits that former athletes bring to coaching roles.

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"What we want to do is expand our comfort zone so that that environment is comfortable," Goodell explained during a recent interview. "It's the reassurance that you can give the athletes that they're okay, they're gonna be okay, everything's okay."

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This perspective proves invaluable when former champions can draw from their own high-pressure experiences to help current athletes navigate similar challenges.

The 2025 Pacific Mini Games feature an impressive roster of former champions now in leadership roles. Solomon Islands boasts two coaching legends: Sharon Firisua, whose medal collection spans multiple Pacific Games including gold in the 5000m, 10000m, and Half Marathon at the 2015 Port Moresby Games, and James Iroga, whose career dates back to the 1979 South Pacific Games.

Palau has hometown hero Peoria Koshiba, who won sprint gold at the 1998 Micronesian Games and now serves as both coach and Secretary General of Palau Athletics. Her career included representation at two Olympic Games (2000, 2008) and multiple World Championships.

Northern Mariana Islands features Zarinae Sapong, who recently transitioned from competing at the 2022 Mini Games to coaching. Her extensive international experience includes four World Championships appearances and three World Indoor Championships.

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PNG's coaching contingent also includes sprinting legends Subul Babo and Nelson Stone. Babo, a star of the 1991 "home Games" in Port Moresby where he won the 400m and two relay golds, represented PNG at two Olympics and served as flag bearer in Atlanta 1996. Stone, the 400m champion from the 2011 and 2015 Pacific Games, brought his experience from two World Championships and the 2012 Olympics to his current coaching role.

The presence of so many former champions in coaching and management roles speaks to the strong sporting culture throughout the Pacific region. These athletes understand not just the technical aspects of their sports, but the unique challenges of representing small island nations on the international stage.

As competition continues at the Pacific Mini Games, the true measure of success may not only be found in the medals won, but in the knowledge transferred and the foundations laid for the next generation of Pacific sporting excellence.

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