More than 3500 athletes from 24 nations in Oceania will gather in Samoa on 7 July for the Pacific Games - the biggest sporting event in the Pacific region.
Meet the Athletes is a series by Pacific Media Network that hears from some of the competitors heading to the games.
19 year-old Matanoko Macdonald will represent the Cook Islands in weighlifting at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games. She has never been to the Cook Islands but she wants to represent her Dad's nation.
Meet the Athletes - Matanoko Macdonald - Cook Islands
Innovation fund Photo: RNZ 2019