Oceania Weightlifting Federation

Fewer athletes, fewer categories, but Pacific weightlifters can still have a big impact at the Paris Olympics

As pressure mounts on the International Weightlifting Federation to clean up its act or risk expulsion from the Olympic family, Coffa says there are more world class lifters in the Pacific than ever, they are drug free, and the idea that there will be fewer island lifters competing in Paris is nonsense.

Oceania Weightlifting Federation pay tribute to Tongan star Lolohea

Known as "the gentle giant", Lolohea represented Tonga at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the men's over-105 kilogram category, finishing 13th. 

He also competed at two Commonwealth Games, coming sixth at Manchester 2002 and placing just off the podium in fourth at Melbourne 2006. 

Lolohea earned a gold medal at the South Pacific Games in 2003, having also triumphed at the South Pacific Championships in Tonga in the same year. 

Following his retirement in 2009, Lolohea received the Oceania Coaching Diploma and became a national coach for Tonga.