{{short description|Kiribati weightlifter}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image= | image_size= | caption= | birth_date= {{birth date|1987|9|11|df=y}} | birth_place= | death_date={{dda|2013|6|23|1987|9|11|df=y}} | height={{height|m=1.72}} | weight={{cvt|85|kg}} | country= {{KIR}} | sport =Weightlifting | event= | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Weightlifting}} {{MedalCompetition|South Pacific Games}} {{MedalGold | 2003 Suva | 85kg }} {{MedalGold | 2003 Suva | }} {{MedalSilver | 2011 Nouméa | }} }} '''Meamea Thomas''' (11 September 1987 in Tarawa<ref>[http://www.kingdompins.com/Sydney_Pinz/kiribatiathletes.htm Kiribati athletes at the 2004 Olympics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825042543/http://www.kingdompins.com/Sydney_Pinz/kiribatiathletes.htm |date=2011-08-25 }}, Kiribati National Olympic Committee</ref> – c. 23 June 2013)<ref name="obit">[http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4733-0-0-0&sID=61185&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=24227158 "In Memoriam: MEAMEA THOMAS 1987-2013"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207030900/http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4733-0-0-0&sID=61185&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=24227158 |date=2013-12-07 }}, Oceania Sport Information Centre, 24 June 2013</ref> was an I-Kiribati weightlifter.
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.<ref name="Kiribati's Olympic adventure">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/3913265.stm "Kiribati's Olympic adventure"], Andrew Fraser, BBC, August 3, 2004</ref> He finished 13th, having lifted 292.5 kg.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/schedule/weightlifting/day8.html "Day 8 Weightlifting Schedule & Results"], ''Sydney Morning Herald''</ref> He was also his country's flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony.<ref>[http://www.oceaniasport.com/kiribati/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=41&sID=35 "Kiribati in first Olympic Games Opening Ceremony"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720140436/http://www.oceaniasport.com/kiribati/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=41&sID=35 |date=2008-07-20 }}, Kiribati National Olympic Committee, August 14, 2004</ref> He had previously won gold in the same event at the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva.<ref name="Kiribati's Olympic adventure"/> He did not take part in the 2008 Olympics.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/content_8972570.htm "Kiribati sends three athletes to Beijing Olympics"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824190853/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/content_8972570.htm |date=2008-08-24 }}, Xinhua, 5 August 2008</ref>
In all, he won two gold medals at the 2003 South Pacific Games, and three at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.<ref>[http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=2-7904-0-0-0&sID=175464&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=11972544 "Meamea Thomas - Kiribati"], 2010 Oceania Weightlifting Championships</ref> He won silver at the 2011 Pacific Games, and was twice Oceania Champion: in 2004 and 2010.<ref name="obit" />
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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement|last1=Grasso|first1=John|last2=Mallon|first2=Bill|last3=Heijmans|first3=Jeroen|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> Paul Coffa, General Secretary of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, paid tribute to his heroism in sacrificing himself to save a life.<ref name="obit" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Meamea}} Category:Weightlifters at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic weightlifters for Kiribati Category:1987 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Pedestrian road incident deaths Category:Road incident deaths in Kiribati Category:People from the Gilbert Islands Category:I-Kiribati male weightlifters Category:Pacific Games gold medalists Category:Pacific Games medalists in weightlifting Category:Pacific Games silver medalists
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