Meamea Thomas
Kiribati weightlifter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Meamea Thomas (11 September 1987 in Tarawa[1] – c. 23 June 2013)[2] was an I-Kiribati weightlifter.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 September 1987 |
| Died | 23 June 2013 (aged 25) |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Kiribati |
| Sport | Weightlifting |
Medal record | |
Thomas represented Kiribati in the men's 85 kg event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was, at that time, ranked 63rd in the world.[3] He finished 13th, having lifted 292.5 kg.[4] He was also his country's flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony.[5] He had previously won gold in the same event at the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva.[3] He did not take part in the 2008 Olympics.[6]
In all, he won two gold medals at the 2003 South Pacific Games, and three at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.[7] He won silver at the 2011 Pacific Games, and was twice Oceania Champion: in 2004 and 2010.[2]
On or around 23 June 2013, he was killed in a crash in his home country, at the age of 25. He saw a bicycle rider about to be hit by a speeding car, and pushed the rider to safety. He was hit instead, and died instantly. The driver of the car was drunk.[8] Paul Coffa, General Secretary of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, paid tribute to his heroism in sacrificing himself to save a life.[2]
