Alex Rose in action at the Paris Olympics. Photo: ONOC Communications / Casey Sims
Alex Rose and Pacific athletes keep making their marks at Olympics
Samoan Alex Rose will be dedicating his finals appearance in the men's discus event at the Paris Olympics to his son.
Having already created history as the first Samoan to qualify for an Olympic final in athletics - and the first male Pacific Island athlete to make an Olympic final in track and field - Rose is focused on not only competing but finishing in the top ranks.
And he has his own family supporting him to achieve that, with a special gift too - his one-year and nine-month-old son.
"This Olympics, I'm a new father," he told the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) media in Paris.
"I'm working full-time on top of training full-time, it's been difficult, but for some reason ever since my wife and I decided to have a family, I've made every single final since. This is my third one, I don't know why it's working but it is."
"Having a family put things into perspective and maybe alleviates some pressure from track."
Rose has made six world championship appearances since his 2013 debut and he has twice reached the finals in 2022 and 2023, with a best finish of eighth in 2022.
When Rose accepted the invitation to represent Samoa, it was about more than just Athletics, he said.
His father was born and raised in Samoa and emigrated to the US at the age of 19 with a church band.
He said flying the Samoan flag at every discus competition gave him a sense of identity for his culture and family.
The 32-year-old said qualifying for the finals in the discus event was a proud moment for him and his family.
He was the 12th to qualify for the finals by the narrowest of margins against New Zealand's Connor Bell at Stade de France.
Rose grabbed the last spot with the same distance as Bell, 62.88 meters; he achieved that mark with his first attempt while Bell did it with his second.
His second throw was a foul while his third was 60.94 meters.
"Things do not always happen as you plan. I'm just so happy to make my first Olympic final and first Olympic final for Samoa," he said.
"I'm just so thankful that things turned out the way they did, and I managed to squeeze in."
"The stadium felt dead as far as the wind goes; I don't think anyone was getting assistance from the wind."
"There was a lot of tension, a lot of medallists in the group - tensions were high and the nerves affected everybody."
"It's a lot of pressure doing the qualifying rounds, maybe more than the finals at times, at least in my position."
Rose will be amongst 11 others who will be attempting to win medals at the finals early on Thursday morning (NZ Time).
Yuri Hosei competed in the women's 50m freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: ONOC / Kirk Corrie
Hosei siblings create Palau history
The Hosei siblings - Jion and Yuri - have become the first of Palau families to compete at any Olympic Games.
Seventeen-year-old Jion and his 19-year-old sister Yuri competed in the 50m men's freestyle and women's 50m freestyle, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The duo also clocked their best personal times.
Jion recorded a time of 25.67 seconds.
Yuri swam a time of 30.52 seconds.
"It was a goal coming here to achieve personal best," Jion told ONOC media.
"I sacrificed most of my free time for practice, especially before and after school.
It means a lot to be here with my sister; it's the first in the country, and we're proud."
She advised aspiring swimmers back home that dedication and commitment are essential to representing their national flag at the pinnacle of the sport.
"Swimming has taught me that everything involves mental strength," she said.
"Our mum was always pushing us; her push has made us come this far."
Jion Hosei competed in the 50m men's freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: ONOC / Kirk Corrie
McCutcheon cherishes debut
Team Fiji swimmer Anahira McCutcheon wants to compete at the 2028 Games, after tasting competition in Paris at the weekend.
The 14-year-old had initially planned to make it to the Olympics in four years, but the call came four years earlier.
McCutcheon was one of two swimmers representing Fiji; she swam a time of 26.88 seconds in the Women's 50m Freestyle event at Paris La Defence Arena.
Despite not qualifying for the semi-finals, the youngest team member said it was a great achievement to qualify for the Olympics at 14.
"It's surprising, I was not expecting to come to the Olympics this year," she told ONOC media.
"I was aiming for 2028, but I ended up coming anyway. It's really cool to be 14 and be able to see the Olympics; everyone here is really looking after me nicely, it's like a big family.
"It's something I would not have imagined."
She admitted that goals are achievable at any age if you consistently work hard.
"Training for the Olympics was a bit less intense, mainly focusing on one event," she said.
"If you have a dream, follow it; you will get there if you put in the hard work and effort. Go for what you want.
I'll be working and working more, hoping to qualify at the 2028 Olympic Games."
Dean loves Olympic experience
Cook Islands Football Association competition manager Pauline Dean believes her Paris Olympics experience will help her do her work better.
Dean worked as a match coordinator at the Paris Olympics, assisting with football matches.
She is a has been a staff at the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) for over a decade.
As competition manager at CIFA, she has overseen countless local and regional tournaments, ensuring the logistics ran smoothly.
Cook Islands News reported Dean was thrilled to attend the Olympic Games for the first time in Paris, working for the international body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), to assist with football matches.
"Being in Paris, France, and at the Olympics…I never thought it would ever happen to me," Dean said.
"Highlights for me have been meeting new friends that work in football around the world. Seeing the Moroccan football star Hakimi (Achraf Hakimi) and French female football superstar Wendie Thérèse Renard with thy eyes.
"And watching the fireworks to kick start the festivities in Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower."
Based in the city of Saint-Étienne, Dean was appointed as one of the match coordinators and assisted the match director in delivering the football matches.