Shaka Sola Explained

Birth Date:	14 March 1977
Birth Place:	Motootua
Weight:	110kg (240lb)
Sport:	Athletics
Event:	Shot put
Updated:	23 May 2015

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.

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		8 Mar 2003
Discus throw	58.82 m		12 Feb 2005
Hammer throw	44.34 m		9 Jul 2003
Javelin throw	41.18 m		9 Aug 2005

Achievements

Representing
1996	Oceania Junior Championships	Townsville, Australia	4th	Shot put	14.20m
			3rd	Discus	48.04 m
2003	South Pacific Games	Suva, Fiji	bgcolor=silver	2nd	Shot put	15.97 m
			bgcolor=gold	1st	Discus	50.46 m
			4th	Hammer	44.34m
2004	Oceania Championships	Townsville, Australia	bgcolor=gold	1st	Shot put	17.86 m CR
			bgcolor=gold	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	bgcolor=gold	1st	Shot put	17.74 m
			bgcolor=silver	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	bgcolor=gold	1st	Shot put	16.77 m
			bgcolor=silver	2nd	Discus	48.73 m
2009	Polynesian Championships	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	bgcolor=gold	1st	Shot put	16.19m
			bgcolor=silver	2nd	Discus	45.14m
	Pacific Mini Games	Rarotonga, Cook Islands	bgcolor=silver	2nd	Shot put	16.16 m
			6th	Discus	42.70m
2011	Oceania Championships (Regional Division East)	Apia, Samoa	bgcolor=silver	2nd	Shot put	15.29 m
			bgcolor=gold	1st	Discus	43.10 m
			bgcolor=silver	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	bgcolor=gold	1st	Shot put	15.04m
			bgcolor=gold	1st	Discus	40.07m

External links

• • Sports reference biography