Bodybuilding medal galore

They are ready to take on the best in the Pacific and they are ready to win medals and lots of it.

They made their intentions clear at the Bay Bodybuilding Classic in Tauranga, New Zealand where they won several gold medals.

Tony Ligaliga bagged two gold medals by winning the U-80kg class and the Overall title while other members of Team Samoa, Puia Mapusua and Max Adams had to settle for silver and bronze in the same division.

In his words, he summed up well the feeling among the team before they embark on a gold hunt mission in Suva on Monday.

"Bring it on," he said after the competition.

Latoa Epati was also among the gold medal winners, easily taking out the novice U-70kg title. The promising Epati will be competing in the U-65kgs division for the first time in the South Pacific Games and his predecessor, Sam Tuitama who retired last year believes he has plenty of potential.

"He's a great medal prospect and he has plenty of potential to go further," Tuitama said.

The ladies competition proved a huge success for Samoa.

Both Nina Von Reiche and rookie, Daisy Mackenzie won gold medals.

Von Reiche overcame tough competition to win the U-57kgs novice women. She is a bodybuilder on the rise and has great potential of winning a gold at the SPG.

"Nina has been in boot camp at Tonys House in New Zealand and has made drastic improvements to her physique and stage presentation making her also a medal contender," national team manager, Lynni Wright said.

McKenzie on the other hand took out her open class Over-57kgs and the overall womens title.

"This lady has excelled in her first year under Tony (Ligaliga)," Wright said. "She also won the Auckland overall womens title in March. Tony is bringing her down into the next weight class U57kg so she is on a strict diet to make her new weight."

McKenzie was in Apia recently with Ligaliga for the Samoa Bodybuilding Federation Exhibition which proved a great success. According to Wright, McKenzie is raring and ready to go.

South Pacific Champion, Viola Etuata, did not compete due to a death in the family.

But according to Wright, Etuata is in the shape of her life and she has high hopes of bagging another gold in the SPG.

"She has been under Tony's supervision since returning to New Zealand to live and is on track to retain her South Pacific title."

Away from members of the SPG team, there were other exciting finds at the competition.

Several Samoan athletes coached by Ligaliga and all placed in the top three of their divisions and some of them will be pushing for places in the national team for next year.

An exciting find was 47-year-old Tele Paetau who won over 80kg novice title. He did it in style.

Another Samoan, Joe Fepuleai took out the masters men class. His gold medal performance follows Fepuleai's successful first outing at the Auckland Champs where he won his class and the Overall Athletic Men Title.

As for Samoa's brightest bodybuilding medal hope, Wright said: "He continues to work hard and make fine tuning to his physique and this year he will be hotly contended by Patrick Mournier from New Caledonia who is making a come back."

The local members of the team will leave for Fiji next Monday where they will be joined by their New Zealand-based teammates.