{{Short description|Samoan weightlifter (born 2002)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2002|5|10}} | birth_place = | height = | weight = | website = | country = {{flagcountry|Samoa}} | sport = Weightlifting | event = | collegeteam = | universityteam = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's Weightlifting}} {{MedalCountry | {{SAM}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Pacific Games}} {{MedalGold|2025 Koror|71 kg}} {{MedalGold|2023 Honiara|73 kg}} {{MedalBronze| 2019 Apia |61kg}} {{MedalComp|Oceania Championships}} {{MedalGold|2025 Meyuns|71 kg}} {{MedalGold|2021|73 kg}} {{MedalGold|2026 Apia|71 kg}} {{MedalBronze|2019 Apia|61 kg}} }} '''John Lautafi Tafi''' (born 10 May 2002)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Weightlifting – Men's 73kg – Start List|url=https://b2022-pdf.microplustimingservices.com/WLF/2022-07-31/WLFM73KG--------------FNL-000100--__C51_3.0.pdf|website=microplustimingservices.com|date=31 July 2022|access-date=10 January 2023|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914222250/https://b2022-pdf.microplustimingservices.com/WLF/2022-07-31/WLFM73KG--------------FNL-000100--__C51_3.0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> is a Samoan weightlifter who has represented Samoa at the Pacific Games and Commonwealth Games.
Tafi is from Lotopa on Upolu.<ref name=SGN2022a/>
At the 2019 Pacific Games, Oceania & Commonwealth Championships in Apia he won 2 gold, 2 silver, and 9 bronze medals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://samoaglobalnews.com/medals-galore-for-samoa-weightlifting/ |title=Medals Galore for Samoa's Young Weightlifters |publisher=Samoa Global News |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808044751/https://samoaglobalnews.com/medals-galore-for-samoa-weightlifting/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
He set a new Oceania record in the 73 kg division at the 2021 Oceania Weightlifting Championships, with a snatch of 136 kg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/sport/84870 |title=Tafi sets Oceania record |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Vaelei Von Dincklage |date=30 May 2021 |access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref> At the 2022 Oceania Junior Championships he broke another three records, with a snatch of 133 kg, jerk of 165 kg, and total of 298 kg.<ref name=SGN2022a>{{cite web |url=https://samoaglobalnews.com/john-tafi-breaks-three-oceania-junior-records-for-mens-73kg-division/ |title=John Tafi Breaks Three Oceania Junior Records for Men's 73kg Division |publisher=Samoa Global News |author=Loreta Kelemete |date=24 May 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713124753/https://samoaglobalnews.com/john-tafi-breaks-three-oceania-junior-records-for-mens-73kg-division/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2022, he was one of six Samoan weightlifters to qualify for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://samoaglobalnews.com/team-samoa-weightlifting-qualified-set-and-loaded-for-commonwealth-games-2022/ |title=Team Samoa Weightlifting – Qualified, Set and Loaded for Commonwealth Games 2022 |publisher=Samoa Global News |date=16 March 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref> He competed in the men's 73 kg event.
At the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Meyuns, Palau he won three gold medals and was named best overall male athlete.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/115173 |title=Tafi is best male athlete at Mini Games |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Uale Tofilau |date=10 July 2025 |access-date=10 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tafi, John}} Category:Living people Category:2002 births Category:Sportspeople from Tuamasaga Category:Samoan male weightlifters Category:21st-century Samoan sportsmen Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Samoa Category:Weightlifters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Category:Pacific Games bronze medalists for Samoa Category:Pacific Games medalists in weightlifting
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