By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo‍

TOKYO, 01 AUGUST 2021 (PACNEWS) --- Although three of Rose’s throws topped 61 metres, he was placed 18th in the field of 32 throwers. Only the top 12 throwers advanced to the finals. 

“I expected to do a little bit better, have a better performance, get into the final,” a disappointed Rose said after being eliminated

Coming to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Rose was the seventh ranked discus thrower in the world this year achieving a personal best distance of 67.48 metres.

He was also a gold medallist at the 2019 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, where he also earned silver in the shot put and hammer throw.

Although out of medal contention, Rose improved his Olympic ranking from Rio in 2016. He has moved from 29th to 18th place in Tokyo. He’s also improved in performance with a throw of 57.24 metres in Rio in 2016 to 61.72 metres in Tokyo.

“While I have gotten a lot better since Rio, I really wanted a further throw out here in Tokyo. Especially given how close I was to qualifying for the final - being only a metre shy is tough, Rose told PACNEWS after his competition Friday.

“I was aiming for a 65 metres throw in qualifying, so I definitely could have been better.

Rose revealed his form had slowly started to degrade over the past month, for multiple reasons. 

“I travelled too much for competitions this year, including two trips to and from Europe. Because of my surgery last September, I wasn't able to lift much early in the year, and I think this affected my body’s resilience at the end of the season. 

“On top of that I have been dealing with some groin and pectoral strain issues that started to bug me over the past week,” Rose revealed.

Not let down by the result of his throw in Japan, the 29-year-old is looking ahead to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games next year.

“From here I plan on keeping my head up and training for the Commonwealth Games next year and the World Championships. I didn't get what I wanted here in Tokyo but I'm proud to be a two-time Olympian,” said Rose.

Born in the United States of America, he is eligible to compete for Samoa through his father and has dual U.S and Samoan citizenship. His father moved from Samoa to the United States of America at age 19. 

"My father Ross was born and raised in Samoa in a small village in the middle of the island. I've always been someone who roots for the underdog. 

“I love competing for a smaller country, a developing nation. It's just a different feeling. I'd love to get to the point where I'm at the Olympics and in the finals, and maybe it's just for 30 seconds on TV they say, 'And for the first time ever, a Samoan athlete qualified for the Olympic final,” said Rose.

Before coming to the Olympics in Japan – Rose had only one ambition – to win a medal in Tokyo.

He works as a technical sales engineer for a technology company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

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