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Family shines brighter than gold

 

Family shines brighter than gold

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AOC
Eileen Cikamatana Pacific Games 2023 Family

Weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana won three gold medals, breaking Pacific Games records and tying Oceania records in the process – but it was a hug with her grandma who had never seen her compete in person that Eileen will cherish the most.

The Solomon Islands Pacific Games was a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in front of her broad family – including grandmother Roselyn, mother Maria, father Sevanaia, sister, aunties, uncles and cousins.

Roselyn was born and met her husband in Solomon Islands, having four children before moving to Fiji, where two more children – including Eileen’s father, was born.

Roselyn has followed Eileen’s progression, from her first weightlifting competition as a teen to being one of the best lifters in her class in the world – always by live stream.

The chance to return to Honiara and watch her granddaughter compete in person for the first time was an opportunity Roselyn and the Cikamatanas couldn’t miss.

“This is a very special competition for me, one of the best,” Eileen said. “Ever since I started winning medals, I always dreamed of being able to go to loved ones in the crowd and hand over my medal – and today, I feel so special to pass over my medals to my grandmother, here in the place she’s from.

“We were both in tears, we couldn’t utter a word, it left us speechless. Even my dad couldn’t say anything, or my aunty. Mum was able to talk … because mum is mum,” Eileen added with a laugh.

“My grandfather passed away earlier this year, how I wished we had him here with us too, but I’m so happy my grandmother could be here in person.”

The Eileen fan club, decked out in freshly made supporter t-shirts, saw her put in a commanding performance to win three gold medals in the 81kg division – lifting 115kg in the snatch and 145kg in the clean and jerk for a combined 260kg – all Pacific Games records and tying the Oceania records.

Eileen’s mother Maria said it was a joyful moment.

“We all had a lot of feelings seeing Eileen today - happy, excited, and grateful that she managed to achieve what she did today – winning gold and setting records, what an achievement,” Maria said.

“Eileen’s grandmother watches her on the live stream whenever she competes. It’s so special bringing her (Roselyn) back to Solomon Islands– the last time she was here was in 2005. We’re not getting any younger, this is such a good chance to come back and see Eileen compete in person.”

Maria said the Eileen fan-shirts was a last minute idea, led by Eileen’s Solomon Islands nieces, with the family running around the day before Eileen competed to make sure they were decked out.

The shirts, inscribed with “You don’t find willpower, you create it,” were a joyful surprise for Eileen.

“Seeing them walk in I didn’t know what to say,” Eileen said. “For them to go out of the way and get those T-shirts printed, made me want to win even more for them. I hope they got a spare for me!”

Eileen’s Aunty Caroline praised Eileen’s commitment and character for bringing so much pride to the Cikamatana family.

“Eileen is a survivor, she works through challenges, is committed, with a good heart and is always smiling,” Caroline said.  “I want to thank her coach Paul Coffa, he has helped bring out the best in her. God Bless Eileen, God Bless the head coach and God Bless Australia!”

With world class performances, Eileen’s best may take her all the way to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Looking back on this competition, it won’t be the lifts, the final weights or any Olympic qualification impacts that Eileen will remember the most.

“Finishing on the podium at Pacific Games is out of this world,” Eileen said. “Doing it with our friends from all over the Pacific and to catch up with old friends makes it even better.

“The people in the crowd are the most special people in the world to me. It’s a special moment I’ll hold forever.”