Samoan Athletes Triumph at Strongman Competition In Australia

2 April 2025 — Samoa delivered a strong performance at the Battle in

the Bay strongman competition in Melbourne over the weekend, with

five athletes from Strongman Samoa finishing on or near the podium

across multiple divisions.

The Battle in the Bay, hosted by Australia’s Strongest and Strong

Geelong at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre as part of the Fitness Expo,

featured competitors from across the region. Samoa’s athletes arrived

well-prepared and delivered steady, disciplined performances across all

events.

Evangeline Taylor-Pati dominated the Open Women’s division, taking

out first place with consistent lifts and confident execution across all

events. Her approach was methodical, and the result left no doubt.

“These events reward control and preparation,” she said. “We’ve been

training for this level of pressure. Once I got through the first event

clean, I knew I could settle in and keep the pace.”

Teammate Elsie Pesamino followed with a strong second-place finish,

while Annette Punivalu battled through a tight field to place fourth. The

combined results marked a standout day for Samoa’s women, who led

the team effort with calm, focused performances.

In the Under 105kg Men’s division, Ryan Walker earned third place. In

the Open Men’s category, Peter Anae finished second after a solid

showing across all disciplines.

“We came here to compete properly, not just participate,” said Anae.

“The whole team stayed switched on. No one panicked, no one rushed.”

Strongman Samoa acknowledged the support of BearWell, who

supplied the team’s kit and backed the campaign from the outset. Their

support has helped lift the sport’s profile in Samoa and enabled athletes

to train and compete at higher levels.

The team now shifts focus to the “Pacific Strongest”, set for 7 June in

Apia. It will be the first international strongman event hosted in Samoa,

bringing together visiting and local athletes for a full day of heavy

events.