| Sanele Mao | |
| Birth Date: | 9 September 1985 |
| Birth Place: | Vaotupua, Falealupo, Savaii |
| Nationality: | Samoan |
| Years Active: | 9 Years |
| Weight: | 93.18kg (205.43lb) |
| Sport: | Weightlifting |
| Weight Class: | 109 kg |
| Pb: | 220 kg |
| Club: | - |
| Team: | National team |
| Coach: | Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork |
Sanele Mao (born 9 September 1985)[1] is a Samoan weightlifter.
Mao is from Vaitele and Falealupo.[2] He initially pursued a career in bodybuilding, representing Samoa at a competition in New Caledonia and winning silver.[2] In 2012 he switched to weightlifting. He participated at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 94 kg event.[3] He won the silver medal at the 2016 Oceania Weightlifting Championships, lifting a total of 335 kg.
Mao won Samoa’s first gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[4] Mao won in the final of the 105 kg men's division during the Weightlifting on day five of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.[5] In 2019 he competed at the 2019 Pacific Games, winning three gold medals.[6] In 2020 he won the men's division in the Oceania Weightlifting Federation Online Cup.[7]
| Year | Venue | Weight | Snatch (kg) | Clean & Jerk (kg) | Total | Rank | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=40 | 1! | width=40 | 2! | width=40 | 3! | width=40 | Rank! | width=40 | 1! | width=40 | 2! | width=40 | 3! | width=40 | Rank |
| Commonwealth Games | |||||||||||||||
| Glasgow, Scotland | 125 | 130 | 135 | 170 | 305 | 9 | |||||||||
 Gold Coast, Australia | 150 | 154 | 1 | 200 | 206 | 1 | 360 | ||||||||