 Facing the big guys
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-20 08:30 One of the world's smallest island nations, Nauru, will have to wait another four years for a shot at Olympic glory. Weightlifter Itte Detenamo, the only athlete representing the South Pacific country, set a personal best yesterday in the +105kg class. It was not enough to win a medal, but the 150-kg Pacific strongman said he is aiming for a podium finish in London 2012. "Yeah, I think that will be my main event," he said. "Now we will prepare for that for four years. It won't be easy. " Weightlifting is a big deal in Nauru, a nation of about 10,000 people and located halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Even its president, Marcus Stephen, is a former weightlifter who competed in three Olympics. Detenamo, 21, placed fourth in the Group B session. He scored a total of 386 kg, missing the last of his six lifts. "My last lift ... it took everything out of me," he said. AP  (China Daily 08/20/2008 page3) |
