Tonga at the 2000 Summer Olympics
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| Tonga at the 2000 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | TGA |
| NOC | Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| in Sydney | |
| Competitors | 3 (2 men and 1 woman) in 2 sports |
| Flag bearer | Ana Siulolo Liku |
| Medals |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Tonga sent a delegation to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia from 15 September to 1 October 2000. Sydney was Tonga's fifth consecutive appearance at a Summer Olympic Games. The Tongan delegation to Sydney consisted of two track and field athletes; Toluta'u Koula and Ana Siulolo Liku; and weightlifter Tevita Kofe Ngalu. Neither of the track athletes advanced beyond the first round of their events, while Ngalu came 13th in the men's 105 kg category.
The Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee was recognized by the International Olympic Committee on 1 January 1984.[1] The Kingdom of Tonga made its Olympic debut at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since then, making these Sydney Games their fifth appearance.[2] They did not make their debut in the Winter Olympic Games until the 2014 Sochi Olympics.[2] The 2000 Summer Olympics were held from 15 September to 1 October 2000; a total of 10,651 athletes represented 199 National Olympic Committees.[3] The Tongan delegation consisted of two track and field athletes; Toluta'u Koula and Ana Siulolo Liku; and weightlifter Tevita Kofe Ngalu.[4] Liku was chosen as the flag-bearer for the opening ceremony.[2]
Athletics
Toluta'u Koula was 30 years old at the time of the Sydney Olympics. He was making his third consecutive and final Olympic appearance, having previously represented Tonga at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.[5][6] On 22 September, he was drawn into heat four of the first round of the men's 100 meters; he finished the race in 11.01 seconds, ninth and last in his heat, and was eliminated.[7][8] The gold medal was eventually won in 9.87 seconds by Maurice Greene of the United States; the silver was won by Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago; and the bronze was earned by Obadele Thompson of Barbados.[9][10]
Ana Siulolo Liku was 26 years old at the time of these Olympics, and had also previously represented Tonga at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[11][12] On 25 September, she was drawn into heat three of the women's 100 meter hurdles, where she finished the race in a time of 14.58 seconds.[13] This put her eighth and last in her heat, and she was eliminated.[14] The gold medal was won by Olga Shishigina of Kazakhstan in a time of 12.65 seconds, the silver by Nigeria's Glory Alozie, and the bronze was won by Melissa Morrison of the United States.[15][16]
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Toluta'u Koula | Men's 100 m | 11.01 | 9 | did not advance | |||||
| Ana Siulolo Liku | Women's 100 m hurdles | 14.58 | 8 | did not advance | |||||
