David Liti. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Weightlifter David Liti will be chasing a personal best when he takes to the South Paris Arena to represent New Zealand at the Olympics.
The 27-year-old will enter the men's +102kg division at the Paris Games, which start in July, with Liti competing on 10 August.
"It's massive to be going to my second Olympics," Liti said.
"I never dreamed I'd be going to two. I'm blessed to do what I love to my full potential and I'm excited to get over there and represent everyone who's been a part of this journey."
David Liti of New Zealand, during the Oceania Weightlifting Championships, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The selection is conditional on confirmation of an Olympic quota place.
If his place in Paris is confirmed, Liti will head to the games following a series of strong competitions including the Oceania Championships where he lifted a combined total of 413kg.
"I'm feeling strong. I finished this Oceania qualifying period lifting way more than I was at the start and I'm tracking well to do some big numbers by Paris."
The South Auckland lifter is known for walking around the Olympic village with a boom box and telling athletes from other nations that he is a 100m sprinter.
"I might say I'm a cyclist at this Olympics, just because of Tour de France. Or maybe I'll tell everyone I'm a professional croissant eater."
Weightlifter David Liti will be the New Zealand team flagbearer at the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. Photo: Supplied: NZOC
Liti is coached by Tina Ball and has a personal best of a 182kg snatch and 232kg clean and jerk, for a 414kg total.
Ball said she is incredibly proud of Liti.
"This is a testament to all the hard work he's put in," Ball said.
"To get the opportunity to showcase what he can do, and provide inspiration to young people is pretty special and I'm really excited for him."
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicol extended her congratulations to Liti.
"David has been a member of many of our teams, spanning Olympic, Commonwealth and Pacific Games. He brings a fantastic energy to our team and we look forward to supporting him in Paris," Nicol said.
Liti is a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, having won gold at Gold Coast 2018 and silver at Birmingham 2022.