 |
Toua, Dika
|
| NOC |
Papua New Guinea
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 23 Jun 1984
in Port Moresby, PNG |
| Height | 1.56 m |
|
|
|
General Interest |
| Hero / Idol |
Australian 400m runner Cathy Freeman. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2014) |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began weightlifting at age 10 in Hanuabada, Papua New Guinea. |
Further Personal Information |
| Languages |
English |
General Interest |
| Other information |
OLYMPIC MEMORIES
In 2000 she competed at her first Olympic Games in Sydney through a tripartite invitation. She had learned about her invite while working as a volunteer at a fun run in Papua New Guinea. "It was a Sunday morning and we were working as volunteers at a fun run to raise money for PNG's Olympic team. I was actually collecting rubbish at the time, empty water bottles and a lot of bits of paper lying around at the stadium at the end of the fun run. There were thousands of people there and they made a public announcement that I had been selected to represent PNG at Sydney. It was a big shock to me, I knew nothing about it." (insidethegames.biz, 22 Mar 2020)
TOUGH TIMES
She considered retiring from the sport after she was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2013. "As soon as I got back to Noumea [from competing at the 2013 Oceania Championships in Brisbane, QLD, Australia] I wasn't felling well - I thought it was a common cold. Then one night I was really bad, I was admitted to hospital and I found out I had tuberculosis. I never told anyone this, but when I was in hospital I sort of gave up on weightlifting. I guess that was the worst time for me. I said to myself when I get back to the Oceania Weightlifting Institute [OWI] I might as well pack up and go back home. But when I walked in and [coach] Paul [Coffa] hugged me, and told me that everything was going to be okay, that I needed to train the next day. That changed my mind. I couldn't bend my knees, I couldn't even squat 50kg, that's how hard it was during that period. But I fought my way back." (insidethegames.biz, 22 Mar 2020)
CLUB FOUNDER
She founded the Loua Dika Toua Weightlifting Club in Hanuabada, Papua New Guinea. (thenational.com.pg, 18 Nov 2016; Athlete, 19 Jul 2014) |
Further Personal Information |
| Family |
Husband Willie Mavara Tamasi, son Paul Arua Gavera, daughter Ani Geua Gavera |
General Interest |
| Injuries |
In 2013 she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. (insidethegames.biz, 22 Mar 2020)
She broke her toe at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. The injury took about one year to heal completely. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2014) |
| Famous relatives |
Her younger sister Thelma Toua has represented Papua New Guinea in weightlifting, and won three gold medals at the 2018 Oceania Championships in Le Mont-Dore, New Caledonia. Her sister Konia and her aunt have also both competed in the sport at international level. (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Oct 2018; onoc.org.fj, 29 Aug 2017; looppng.com, 06 Jul 2015; Athlete, 19 Jul 2014) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Strive to be the best." (Athlete, 19 Jul 2014) |
Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Port Moresby, PNG |
General Interest |
| Awards and honours |
She was flag bearer for Papua New Guinea at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (sundayobserver.lk, 19 Sep 2021; iwf.net, 05 Jun 2018)
In 2018 and 2019 she was named Female Athlete of the Year at the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee [PNGOC] Sports Awards. (oceaniaweightlifting.com, 29 May 2019; iwf.net, 05 Jun 2018) |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Athlete |
General Interest |
| Milestones |
She was one of three female weightlifters to make their fifth Olympic appearance at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, which was a record for female weightlifters. She and Japanese weightlifter Hiromi Miyake competed in the 49kg category, while later in the Games Alexandra Escobar participated in the 59kg class. (SportsDeskOnline, 17 Nov 2021; insidethegames.biz, 23 Jul 2021)
She became the first female athlete representing Papua New Guinea to compete in weightlifting at the Olympic Games when the women's competition was held for the first time in 2000 in Sydney. (trukai.com.pg, 18 Jun 2002; SportsDeskOnline, 17 Sep 2000) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. (insidethegames.biz, 23 Jul 2021) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
She was encouraged to get involved in the sport by her aunt. "When I took it up I just did it for fun, playing around with the weights. But I loved it, I seemed to have a special talent and when I was 13 I was allowed to compete internationally." |
General Interest |
| Most influential person in career |
Coach Paul Coffa. (abc.net.au, 01 Oct 2020; insidethegames.biz, 22 Mar 2020) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Name of coach |
Paul Coffa [personal] |
| | Olympic Games |
| 2020 |
10 |
49kg |
 Tokyo |
| 2012 |
12 |
53kg |
 London |
| 2008 |
7 |
53kg |
 Beijing |
| 2004 |
6 |
53kg |
 Athens |
| 2000 |
10 |
48kg |
 Sydney |
| | World Championships |
| 2023 |
26 |
49kg |
 Riyadh |
| 2023 |
31 |
49kg - Snatch |
Riyadh |
| 2023 |
27 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Riyadh |
| 2022 |
24 |
49kg |
 Bogotá |
| 2022 |
30 |
49kg - Snatch |
Bogotá |
| 2022 |
18 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Bogotá |
| 2019 |
11 |
49kg |
 Pattaya |
| 2019 |
17 |
49kg - Snatch |
Pattaya |
| 2019 |
6 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Pattaya |
| 2015 |
20 |
53kg |
 Houston, TX |
| 2015 |
22 |
53kg - Snatch |
Houston, TX |
| 2015 |
20 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Houston, TX |
| 2007 |
22 |
53kg |
Chiang Mai |
| 2007 |
30 |
53kg - Snatch |
Chiang Mai |
| 2007 |
18 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Chiang Mai |
| 2005 |
|
53kg |
 Doha |
| 2005 |
9 |
53kg - Snatch |
Doha |
| 2005 |
|
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Doha |
| 2003 |
20 |
53kg |
 Vancouver, BC |
| 2003 |
21 |
53kg - Snatch |
Vancouver, BC |
| 2003 |
20 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Vancouver, BC |
| | Oceania Championships |
| 2024 |
1 |
49kg |
 Auckland |
| 2024 |
1 |
49kg - Snatch |
Auckland |
| 2024 |
1 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Auckland |
| 2023 |
1 |
49kg |
 Honiara |
| 2023 |
1 |
49kg - Snatch |
Honiara |
| 2023 |
1 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Honiara |
| 2022 |
1 |
49kg |
 Saipan |
| 2022 |
1 |
49kg - Snatch |
Saipan |
| 2022 |
1 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Saipan |
| 2019 |
1 |
49kg |
 Apia |
| 2019 |
1 |
49kg - Snatch |
Apia |
| 2019 |
1 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Apia |
| 2018 |
1 |
53kg |
 Le Mont-Dore |
| 2018 |
2 |
53kg - Snatch |
Le Mont-Dore |
| 2018 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Le Mont-Dore |
| 2017 |
1 |
53kg |
Gold Coast, QLD |
| 2017 |
1 |
53kg - Snatch |
Gold Coast, QLD |
| 2017 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Gold Coast, QLD |
| 2015 |
|
53kg |
 Port Moresby |
| 2015 |
|
53kg - Snatch |
Port Moresby |
| 2015 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Port Moresby |
| 2014 |
1 |
53kg |
Le Mont-Dore |
| 2014 |
1 |
53kg - Snatch |
Le Mont-Dore |
| 2014 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Le Mont-Dore |
| 2013 |
1 |
53kg |
Brisbane, QLD |
| 2012 |
1 |
53kg |
Apia |
| 2012 |
1 |
53kg - Snatch |
Apia |
| 2012 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Apia |
| 2008 |
1 |
53kg |
Auckland |
| 2008 |
1 |
53kg - Snatch |
Auckland |
| 2008 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Auckland |
| 2007 |
2 |
53kg |
Apia |
| 2007 |
1 |
53kg |
Apia |
| 2004 |
1 |
53kg |
 Suva |
| 2004 |
1 |
53kg - Snatch |
Suva |
| 2004 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Suva |
| 2003 |
1 |
53kg |
 Nukualofa |
| 2003 |
1 |
53kg - Snatch |
Nukualofa |
| 2003 |
1 |
53kg - Clean & Jerk |
Nukualofa |
| 2000 |
2 |
48kg |
 |
| 2000 |
2 |
48kg - Snatch |
|
| 2000 |
2 |
48kg - Clean & Jerk |
|
| | Commonwealth Games |
| 2022 |
5 |
49kg |
Birmingham |
| 2018 |
2 |
53kg |
Gold Coast, QLD |
| 2014 |
1 |
53kg |
 Glasgow |
| 2006 |
2 |
53kg |
Melbourne, VIC |
| 2002 |
|
48kg |
Manchester |
| 2002 |
|
48kg - Snatch |
Manchester |
| 2002 |
4 |
48kg - Clean & Jerk |
Manchester |
| | IWF Grand Prix |
| 2024 |
17 |
49kg |
Phuket |
| 2024 |
23 |
49kg - Snatch |
Phuket |
| 2024 |
17 |
49kg - Clean & Jerk |
Phuket |
| |
|
|