Shaka Sola

Samoan shot putter and discus thrower (born 1977)

Shaka Sola

Personal information

Born|  (1977-03-14) March 14, 1977 (age 48)
Motootua
Height| 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight| 110 kg (240 lb)
Sport
Country|  Samoa
Sport| Athletics
Event| Shot put

Medal record

Men's athletics
Representing  Samoa
(South) Pacific Games
| 2007 Apia | Shot put
| 2003 Suva | Discus
| 2007 Apia | Discus
| 2003 Suva | Shot put
| 2011 Nouméa | Shot put
(South) Pacific Mini Games
| 2005 Koror | Shot put
| 2009 Rarotonga | Shot put
| 2005 Koror | Discus
Oceania Championships
| 2011 Apia | Discus
| 2004 Townsville | Shot put
| 2004 Townsville | Discus
| 2011 Apia | Shot put
| 2011 Apia | Hammer
| 2014 Rarotonga | Hammer
| 2004 Townsville | Hammer

Updated on 23 May 2015

Shaka Sola (born 14 March 1977) is a Samoan shot putter and discus thrower[1] who became a popular if surprising star at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics.

## Career

[edit]

At the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, Sola arrived late, having missed his flight from Samoa, and did not reach the games until his specialist event (shot put) had completed. As compensation, he asked to be allowed to compete in the javelin, although he had never previously thrown a javelin.

Sola finished last in the event by a considerable distance, throwing the javelin 41.18 metres, over 17 metres less than the next worst competitor. He was roundly applauded and supported by the other javelin throwers, however, all of whom were aware of the reasons for his participation in that event.

Sola, though not a spectacular javelin thrower, is more than capable in his own sports. He won gold at the 2004 Oceania Athletics Championships in both discus (with a games record of 53.79m) and shot put (17.86m), and represented Samoa in the discus at the 2004 Olympic Games.

In 2005, Sola competed in the South Pacific Mini Games for the first time, winning two medals - one gold and one silver. He first competed in the shot put, throwing 17.74 metres and winning his medal of the games. Sola then competed in the discus and came second place with a throw of 49.33.

## Personal bests

[edit]

Event | Result | Venue | Date

|
|
|

Shot put | 18.12 m |  Wellington | 8 Mar 2003
Discus throw | 58.82 m |  Wellington | 12 Feb 2005
Hammer throw | 44.34 m |  Suva | 9 Jul 2003
Javelin throw | 41.18 m |  Helsinki | 9 Aug 2005

## Achievements

[edit]

Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Representing  Samoa
1996  | Oceania Junior Championships | Townsville, Australia | 4th  | Shot put  | 14.20m
3rd  | Discus  | 48.04 m
2003  | South Pacific Games | Suva, Fiji | 2nd  | Shot put  | 15.97 m
1st  | Discus  | 50.46 m
4th  | Hammer  | 44.34m
2004  | Oceania Championships | Townsville, Australia | 1st  | Shot put  | 17.86 m CR
1st  | Discus  | 53.79 m CR
3rd  | Hammer  | 45.94 m
Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 36th (q)  | Discus  | 51.10m
2005  | South Pacific Mini Games | Koror, Palau | 1st  | Shot put  | 17.74 m
2nd  | Discus  | 49.33 m
4th  | Hammer  | 40.82m
World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 31st (q)  | Javelin  | 41.18m
2006  | Commonwealth Games | Melbourne, Australia | 10th  | Shot put  | 16.47m
12th  | Discus  | 47.74m
2007  | Pacific Games | Apia, Samoa | 1st  | Shot put  | 16.77 m
2nd  | Discus  | 48.73 m
2009  | Polynesian Championships | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | 1st  | Shot put  | 16.19m
2nd  | Discus  | 45.14m
Pacific Mini Games | Rarotonga, Cook Islands | 2nd  | Shot put  | 16.16 m
6th  | Discus  | 42.70m
2011  | Oceania Championships (Regional Division East) | Apia, Samoa | 2nd  | Shot put  | 15.29 m
1st  | Discus  | 43.10 m
2nd  | Hammer  | 36.04 m
Pacific Games | Nouméa, New Caledonia | 3rd  | Shot put  | 16.17 m
6th  | Discus  | 43.01m
2014  | Oceania Championships | Rarotonga, Cook Islands | 4th  | Shot put  | 14.90m
4th  | Discus  | 40.01m
3rd  | Hammer  | 34.23m
Oceania Masters Championships (35y-39y)  | Rarotonga, Cook Islands | 1st  | Shot put  | 15.04m
1st  | Discus  | 40.07m

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Shaka Sola - Biography, Commonwealth Games Federation, retrieved 22 May 2015

## External links

[edit]

* Shaka Sola at World Athletics
* Shaka Sola at Olympedia
* Shaka Sola at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
* Sports reference biography

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New Zealand national champions in men's discus throw

* 1921–1923: Peter Munro
* 1924: Jack McHolm
* 1925–1926: Peter Munro
* 1927: Len Hunt
* 1928–1930: Peter Munro
* 1931: Harlow Rothert (USA)
* 1932–1935: Peter Munro
* 1936–1938: Alister Cameron
* 1939: Jack Morgan
* 1940: Ernie Todd
* 1941–1944: not held
* 1945: Fred Marshall
* 1946–1951: Gus Redmond
* 1952: Ikar Lissienko
* 1953: Harold Moody
* 1954: Graeme Lawless
* 1955: Les Mills
* 1956: Roy Williams
* 1957–1962: Les Mills
* 1963: Robin Tait
* 1964: Richard Harris
* 1965: Robin Tait
* 1966–1967: Les Mills
* 1968–1970: Robin Tait
* 1971–1972: Les Mills
* 1973–1974: Robin Tait
* 1975: Walter Gill
* 1976: Robin Tait
* 1977: Mac Wilkins (USA)
* 1978–1983: Robin Tait
* 1984: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1985: Mac Wilkins (USA)
* 1986–1988: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1989–1990: Mark Robinson
* 1991–1992: Chris Barrett
* 1993: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1994–1995: Chris Mene
* 1996: Thomas Rosvold (NOR)
* 1997: Chris Mene
* 1998: Virgilijus Alekna (LTU)
* 1999: Sergey Lyakhov (RUS)
* 2000–2001: Ian Winchester
* 2002: Chris Mene
* 2003: Shaka Sola (SAM)
* 2004–2005: Bertrand Vili (NCL)
* 2006: Shaka Sola (SAM)
* 2007: Bertrand Vili (NCL)
* 2008: Patrick Hellier
* 2009: Bertrand Vili (NCL)
* 2010–2012: Marshall Hall
* 2013: Tom Walsh
* 2014–2019: Marshall Hall
* 2020: Jordan Young (CAN)
* 2021–2025: Connor Bell

* v
* t
* e

New Zealand national champions in men's shot put

* 1890: Robert John Malcolm
* 1891–1892: Tim O'Connor
* 1893–1894: Owen McCormack
* 1895: Charles Louisson
* 1896: Walter Rhodes
* 1897: Tim O'Connor
* 1898: Hugh Good
* 1899: Owen McCormack
* 1900: William Heaney Madill
* 1901: William Orton Bradley
* 1902: William Heaney Madill
* 1903–1905: William Orton Bradley
* 1906: Robert George Rains
* 1907: Geurt Thomassen
* 1908–1909: Walter de Thier
* 1910: Len McKay
* 1911: Walter de Thier
* 1912: Albert Sidney Reid
* 1913: Walter de Thier
* 1914: J. Murray
* 1915: Albert Sidney Reid
* 1916–1919: not held
* 1920–1922: Peter Munro
* 1923: Jack Merchant (USA)
* 1924: David Brown
* 1925–1926: Peter Munro
* 1927: Ernest Sutherland
* 1928–1930: Peter Munro
* 1931: Harlow Rothert (USA)
* 1932–1935: Peter Munro
* 1936: Alister Cameron
* 1937: Ken Guy
* 1938–1939: Doug Herman
* 1940: Jack Opie
* 1941–1944: not held
* 1945–1946: Doug Herman
* 1947–1949: Keith Morgan
* 1950: Doug Herman
* 1951: Keith Morgan
* 1952–1953: Harold Moody
* 1954: Clifford Ormsby
* 1955: Les Mills
* 1956: A. Jefferies
* 1957–1962: Les Mills
* 1963: Robin Tait
* 1964: Richard Harris
* 1965–1970: Les Mills
* 1971: Robin Tait
* 1972: Les Mills
* 1973–1974: Robin Tait
* 1975–1976: Keith Falle
* 1977: Mac Wilkins (USA)
* 1978–1981: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1982: Alan Hallberg
* 1983–1986: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1987: Walter Gill
* 1988: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1989: Walter Gill
* 1990: Courtney Ireland
* 1991: Simon Poelman
* 1992: Patrick Hellier
* 1993: Henry Smith (SAM)
* 1994–1995: Patrick Hellier
* 1996: Richard Thompson
* 1997–1998: Ian Winchester
* 1999: Sergey Lyakhov (RUS)
* 2000–2001: Ian Winchester
* 2002: Bertrand Vili (NCL)
* 2003–2006: Shaka Sola (SAM)
* 2007: Patrick Hellier
* 2008–2010: Daniel Kilama (FRA)
* 2011: Liu Yang (CHN)
* 2012–2022: Tom Walsh
* 2023–2024: Jacko Gill
* 2025: Tom Walsh

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