Paul Wallwork Explained

Seiuli Paul Wallwork OM (15 January 1942 – 14 March 2024) was a Samoan weightlifter, civil servant, and sports administrator. He was the first Samoan to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, winning a Silver in weightlifting at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1999 he was one of six members of the International Olympic Committee implicated in the 2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal.

Biography

Seiuli Paul Wallwork was born on 15 January 1942 and was educated at Avele College.[1] He broke his neck while playing rugby in New Zealand as a youth,[2] and began weightlifting to strengthen his leg and arm muscles after the injury left him with paralysis.[3] He represented Samoa in the 1966,[4] 1969,[5] and 1971 South Pacific Games, winning a gold medal in each.[6] In 1968 he moved to Australia to study at the University of Sydney.[2] In 1969 he won the Australian weightlifting championship, and in 1972 the Australasian.[2] He was offered a place on the Australian team for the 1972 Summer Olympics but declined as he did not want to renounce his Samoan citizenship.[3] [7] He subsequently represented Samoa in the 1974 Commonwealth Games, winning silver.[8] [9]

Wallwork later worked as permanent secretary for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs and headed the organising committee for the 1983 South Pacific Games.[10] In 1987 Wallwork was appointed to the International Olympic Committee.[11] In 1991 he was elected president of the South Pacific Games Council.[12] In 1999 he was expelled from the IOC during the 2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal as his wife had received a $30,000 loan from a Salt Lake City official and his family had received more than $67,000 in travel benefits from Salt Lake City.[11] [13] He subsequently resigned from Samoa's National Olympic Committee.[14]

Wallwork later served as president of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation[15] and president of Rugby League Samoa.[16]

Wallwork was appointed to the Order of Merit of Samoa in the 2014 Samoa Honours and Awards.[17]

Wallwork died after a prolonged illness on 14 March 2024, at the age of 82.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A.C.O.P.A. honours former students . Samoa Observer . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . 12 June 2024 . 13 June 2024.
  2. News: People . Pacific Islands Monthly . 54 . 6 . 45 . 1 June 1983 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  3. Web site: Western Samoa Hosts South Pacific Games . UPI . 3 September 1983 . 26 September 2021.
  4. News: Noumea Fever Builds Up – As NG Fights For Third Games . Pacific Islands Monthly . 37 . 11 . 156 . 1 November 1966 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: WEIGHTLIFTERS DO BETTER . Pacific Islands Monthly . 40 . 9 . 32 . 1 September 1969 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: WEIGHTLIFTERS EXCEL . Pacific Islands Monthly . 42 . 10 . 34 . 1 October 1971 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: In a Nutshell . Pacific Islands Monthly . 43 . 8 . 129 . 1 August 1972 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  8. Web site: Samoa Silver Medals Christchurch 1974 . Commonwealth Games Federation . 26 September 2021.
  9. News: SAMOA HAS ARRIVED AT THE GOLD COAST . OCEANIA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION Newsletter . 30 March 2018 . 26 September 2021.
  10. News: Games doubters eat their words . Pacific Islands Monthly . 54 . 11 . 14 . 1 November 1983 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  11. Web site: The list of shame . BBC . 17 March 1999 . 26 September 2021.
  12. News: New face, new ideas . Pacific Islands Monthly . 61 . 10 . 33–37 . 1 October 1991 . 26 September 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  13. Web site: IOC Expels Six Members Linked to Bribery Scandal . Los Angeles Times . 18 March 1999 . 26 September 2021.
  14. Web site: WALLWORK RESIGNS FROM SAMOA IOC . Pacific Islands Report . 7 December 1999 . 26 September 2021.
  15. Web site: The Oceania Weightlifting Institute . IWF . 3 August 2009 . 26 September 2021.
  16. Web site: First rugby league international test match in Samoa . SBSSamoan . 7 October 2016 . 26 September 2021.
  17. News: Honours conferred . Samoa Observer . 22 December 2014.
  18. Web site: Samoan sporting pioneer called to rest . Samoa Observer . 15 March 2024 . 15 March 2024.

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