Shaka Sola

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

Shaka Sola

Personal information
Born	(1977-03-14) March 14, 1977 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

Career

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

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

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

External links

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