Tania Tan, 22, the CNMI's first two-time gold medalist. Photo: Supplied
Tania Tan, the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI) first two-time gold medalist at the Pacific Games says she is happy to inspire others following her performance in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The 22-year-old, who struck gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m, that included a Pacific Games record on the latter, said what made competing in the quadrennial event harder was she did it during finals week in her master's program at the University of Hawaii.
"It's been a crazy week for me," she said.
"Trying to focus on racing, final exams and papers, while trying to keep up responding to the media has been something I've never had to deal with before.
"On top of that, many people coming up to me, congratulating me, and even asking me for photos with them. Some even have told me how I've inspired them and other young girls and they'll be rooting for me in the next Games."
The former Fordham University track and field star said at the end of the day she is just a girl who loves to run.
"I'm glad I've made an impact in our Pacific sports community, inspiring others even if it's just a little bit," she said.
"I've already said this to the media after my 10,000m but persevering is a big motto for me, not in just athletics but in life in general too.
"When times get tough, people tend to just give up. But it's those tough times you go through that make you a stronger athlete and person. If you learn to face those challenges and setbacks, I believe that it'll help you in the long run."
The 22-year-old, who struck gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m. Photo: Supplied
Tan, who also took on the challenge of the half marathon on the last day of the Pacific Games and finished fourth, said she is also glad to have delivered success for Team CNMI.
"Running for your country, your island, and those people back home really motivates you. So here we are and I'm eternally grateful to have put our tiny CNMI islands out there to show everyone what we are capable of.
"The future is bright for sports in the CNMI and this is only the beginning," she said in a social media post.
Tan's success in the Honiara Games is in stark to her performance in last year's 2022 Pacific Mini Games on home soil on Saipan, where she didn't even finish the 10,000 after collapsing and was taken to the emergency room.
The CNMI went on to win a total of 13 medals in the Games: five gold, one silver, and six bronze medals.
Aside from Tan's two gold medals, swimmer Isaiah Aleksenko bagged gold in the 200m butterfly, Christine Tudela also earned gold in bodybuilding, and Ray Santos topped the snatch portion in the 55kg class of weightlifting.
Santos also went to earn a silver and bronze, while the other six bronze medals were won by the relay team in swimming (4x100m individual medley and 4x100m relay), Leowell Cristobal of weightlifting, and Logan Mister and Andrew Johnson of beach volleyball.