Narita Viliamu Tahega

Narita Viliamu Tahega

NCSS

Personal information
Birth name	Narita Janne Freda Tuga Viliamu
Born	(1989-07-04) 4 July 1989 (age 35) Alofi South, Niue[1]
Weight	145 kg (320 lb)[2]
Sport
Country	Niue
Sport	Weightlifting
Medal record Women's Weightlifting Representing  Niue Pacific Games 2011 Nouméa +75 kg Pacific Mini Games 2009 Rarotonga +75 kg

Narita Viliamu Tahega NCSS (née Narita Janne Freda Tuga Viliamu; born 4 July 1989)^[3][4][1] is a Niuean weightlifter.

From 2003 to 2011, Viliamu Tahega won 38 medals in the 75 kg+ weight class across 13 international weightlifting competitions, giving her the recognition of having won the most medals of any Niuean athlete in international competition. Events Viliamu Tahega competed in include the Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, Pacific Mini Games, and Oceania & South Pacific weightlifting championship. Her total medal record consists of 14 gold, 23 silver, and 1 bronze medal.^{[5][6][specify]}

After her retirement from competitive weightlifting, Viliamu Tahega also served as an official in the Oceania Talent Identification Programme which, with the support of the International Weightlifting Federation, trains thousands of young weightlifters and selects top athletes to attend a training camp at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute.^[7] In 2018, Viliamu Tahega was elected the president of the Niue Weightlifting Federation^[8] and was reappointed to the position in 2020.^[9] In June 2022, Viliamu Tahega was nominated by the Niue Weightlifting Federation to the executive board of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation.^[10]

In 2020, Viliamu Tahega was awarded the Niue Community Service Star in recognition of her contributions to Niue athletics.^[5]

Personal life

Viliamu Tahega is a police officer.^[5] In 2021, Viliamu Tahega was elected to the Alofi South Village Council.^[11] She also served in the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Viliamu Tahega's mother, Joan Sisiati Tahafa-Viliamu, served in the Niue Assembly as a common roll member from 2011 to 2014. Viliamu Tahega has 3 siblings: Afi, Clayton, and Tsel.^[12]

References

1. Pavihi, Esther (29 November 2022). "Former Cabinet Minister Hon. Joan Tahafa Viliamu passed away". TV Niue. TV Niue. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
2. "Peters puts in top lift". Cook Islands News. 11 October 2010. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
3. "Weightlifting Athletes / Bios – VILIAMU NARITA JANNE FREDA TUGA". International Weightlifting Federation. International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
4. "Weightlifting Queensland – December 2009" (PDF). Queensland Weightlifting Association. Queensland Weightlifting Association Inc. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
5. Pavihi, Esther (2020). "Weightlifter and 38-time medallist Narita Viliamu Tahega (NCSS) awarded the Niue Community Services Star". Television Niue. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
6. "Weightlifting Women's +75 kg – Result". m2006.thecgf.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
7. "Talent ID programme works to get kids interested". The National. The National. 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
8. "Oceania Weightlifting Federation Newsletter – September 2018" (PDF). Oceania Weightlifting Federation. Oceania Weightlifting Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
9. "Newsletter – April 15th 2020" (PDF). Oceania Weightlifting Federation. Oceania Weightlifting Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
10. "2022 CWF ELECTORAL CONGRESS – NOMINATIONS" (PDF). Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation. Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
11. Tohovaka, Darren A N (17 August 2021). "Niue Village Council Elections 2021". Niue Government Gazette. No. 6. Niue Government. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
12. "Hon. Joan Sisiati Tahafa Viliamu". Pacific Women in Politics. Pacific Women in Politics. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.