Mihter Wendolin: 100 meter sprinter looks back at her race

FSM's Miss 50 meter freestyler interviewed in London

Debra Daniel of Pohnpei topped the heat 2 of the women’s 50 meters freestyle qualifying heats at the Aquatics Center at the London Olympic Games around ten o’clock on August 3.

Daniel surged ahead at around 20 meters into the race and extended her lead to finish in first place with a time of 30.32 seconds that bettered the time for the second placer by more than one second. Daniel explained later that this was her best time in the event.

If this were in athletics, Daniel would have advanced to the next round. Instead, based on swimming regulations, only the best 16 times in all the heats moved on to the semi-finals. Daniel was ranked at number 56 after the qualifying heats.

Keitani taking his rightful place among FSM Olympians

Keitani Graham and his coach, Larry Uwelur, during warm up about an hour before the match

Less than an hour before FSM Wrestling's first historic match at the World Olympics, Keitani and coach Larry Uwelur took to the mat in the wrestling practice hall before competition at the Excel Center in London.

As I watched them among other world champions within the same facility, I couldn't help but recall Keitani's "coming of age" as a multi-discipline athlete, a leader, a role model, and now, an Olympian.

Keitani is well-known in his home-state of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia for his dedication to excellence in sport and unrelenting focus on "becoming the best" in the sports of basketball, athletics, and the past five years, wrestling. He has competed at the South Pacific Games in basketball and athletics (pentathlon) and now has become FSM Wrestling's first debut at the Olympics.

Keitani taking the wrestling stage. Coach Larry and Clark Graham, FSM Wrestling Secretary General at team side

Keitani's steps onto the wrestling stage foreshadowed the dominance of a "new sport" in the FSM that has already established esteemed regards in the country since the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia Samoa. Apart from the acclaimed great FSM lifter Manuel Minginfel, FSM wrestlers, especially Keitani Graham, have made their country men and women proud though their continuing successes as a developing sport. Coach Larry himself helped pioneered the way for great athletes like Keitani to make a strong mark for the FSM.

Keitani Graham, FSM (red) and Charles Edward Betts, USA at the start of their match

So, even though the "underdog" was handed a defeat by Betts Charles Edward, a great USA wrestler in their 84 KG match, the end result will only intensify Keitani's hunger for greatness. For beneath the quiet humble nature that dictates this young man's simple approach is a resolute fighter who has built bigger dreams for less fortunate Micronesian not only through sports but community involvement, education, and outreach programs. I do not hesitate to say that Keitani already has his heart fixed on what he has to do to rise up the same steps four years later, only in a different host-country, Brazil.

A Day Off for Team FSM

Today, Sunday, Team FSM has no one competing. Keitani's big day is coming up tomorrow as he will wrestle at 1:30pm.

John Howard and a few others will have a tour of some of the hightlights of London before he starts his way back home (Guam) tomorrow evening.

For all our fans, please be on the look out for Keitani's event tomorrow.

John Howard: “Too much pressure to break the (National) record”

John Howard, in blue outfit, psyching himself before his race

London (August 4, 2012): Just outside the media mixed zone minutes after his race, John Howard expressed dissatisfaction about his performance in the third heat of the men’s 100 meters preliminary round.

Howard ran 11.05 seconds in 5^th place trailing four other runners in a race with a winning time of 10.55 by Berenger Aymard Bosse of the Central African Republic. Elama Fa’atonu of Amarican Samoa came in last but set his best time ever of 11.48 in the process.

“I was next to the fastest guy in our heat. I thought that would help me lower my time”, Howard said before he commended on his own start, which has been the sprinter’s most difficult area.

“There was too much pressure on my mind. I wanted so much to break my personal best”, Howard said with displease, as he was aware of the hope and expectations his country-men and women quietly hold for him.  

Howard’s fastest time of 10.83 (FSM National Record) was set during the Athens Olympics eight years ago. Thereafter, Howard’s results at other meets have been lingering around 11.2.

Howard’s was the fastest time among the nine Oceania sprinters in the prelims, closely followed by Palau’s Rodman Teltull with 11.06.

The Guam-based FSM sprinter has not had any serious competitions leading to the Olympic Games like most established sprinters do to peak in time physically and mentally.

The FSM National Olympic Committee sent most of its athletes including John Howard to a 6-weeks pre-Olympic camp in Liverpool, England to “fine-tune” for London.

(Post Competition Interview with John Howard)

John Howard: London Olympics: August 4, 2012

Kerson Hadley's post-competition interview on Augus 2, 2012

Hadley splashes to personal best and new FSM record

Video taken by Keitani Graham

London (August 2, 2012): Kerson Hadley of Pohnpei outraced other six swimmers in his heat of the 50 meters freestyle this morning at the Aquatics Center, London shattering his previous personal best by nearly a second and setting a national record for the FSM.

In spite of coming in first place in his heat with a time of 24.82 seconds, according to regulations of the international governing body for swimming (FINA), only the fastest sixteen times advance to the semi finals.

“I am very excited that I made a new personal best”, Hadley said an hour after his race back at the Olympic Village.

Hadley’s time was 3.05 seconds slower than the fastest time set by Bovell Georg Richard of the Trinidad in the sixth heat and about 2.55 seconds shy of clinching the 16^th overall standing to advance to the semi’s.

The whole FSM Team was at the Aquatics Center this morning to lend support to Hadley and very thrilled to witness his first-place achievement .

Haley said his long time away from home training in Guam and later in Manchester did a lot of good for him.

“Training away from home is good because it makes me focus and more ready for competition”, Hadley said in retrospect.

More actions from Team FSM will follow tomorrow with Debra Daniel taking on the women’s 50 meter freestyle at 10:00 in the morning and Mihter Wendolin facing other sprinters in the women’s athletics event about an hour later.

Minginfel settles for 10th place among younger lifters

Marz Akapito

Team Press Attaché   

London (July 31, 2012): After his successful last attempt at the ExCel- South Arena 3 in London the morning of July 30, Manuel Minginfel of Yap dropped the heavy 158 kg in the clean and jerk competition and punched the air with both fists while the crowd gave a thunderous roar.

Minginfel lifted in the B group of his 62kg category and finished with a combined weight of 285kg which put him in 10^th place out of 15 lifters. He lifted 127 in the snatch and 158 in the clean and jerk.

At the end of the morning session for the 62kg category, Minginfel was ranked number 3 behind Hasabi Muhamad of India who totaled 301kg and Saad Ahmed of Egypt with 292kg who dropped to 7^th and 9^th  after the group A finished in the afternoon.

Kim Un Guk of the People’s Republic of Korea won the gold medal with his powerful lift of 327kg which now stands as both the world record and Olympic record. Figueroa Mosquera Oscar Albeiro of Colombia claimed the silver medal with 317kg. Albeiro also has set a new Olympic record of 177kg in the clean and jerk.

Minginfel said he aimed to topple his personal best of 293kg in combined weight achieved six years ago in Santo Domingo, but the chance of that happening was out of range when he nearly scratched the clean and jerk starting weight of 158kg. When he made his third and final attempt for 158kg in the clean and jerk,  34 years old Minginfel gave his all, placing himself among the top 10 in the world at the moment and preventing what could have amounted to an unacceptable result.    

Minginfel now contemplates taking a short break after London. He said he could still take a few more years of competition, especially at the Oceania level, while helping other aspirants to further boost weightlifting in his country.

FSM Team greets the world at London Olympics opening ceremony

Marz Akapito

Team Press Attaché

 London (July 29, 2012): The FSM Team at the London Olympics took part in the Opening Ceremony, joining the 203 nations in the “Parade of Nations” which have converged in London for the world’s biggest and prestigious quadrennial sport competitions.

Weightlifter Manuel Minginfel was the flag bearer for the 13-members Team FSM when they marched into the pact arena to thunderous beats and spectacular lighting. Team FSM entered the stadium after Mexico in the lauded ceremony that is predicted to attract billions of viewers around the world. The team paraded around the altered oval in a spear-head formation with the athletes at the front.  Minginfel was first followed by Mihter Wendolin and Debra Daniel, the two female athletes who specialize in track-and-field and swimming respectively. Behind Wendolin and Daniel were Kerson Hadley (swimmer), Keitani Graham (wrestler) and John Howard (sprinter), marching side by side while waving to the  screaming crowd. Four coaches were right behind the athletes: George Steven, Rendy Germinaro, Ron Etshceit and Larry Uwelur, three of whom are upshot young coaches with competition experiences in Micronesia, Oceania and (for Larry) at the world. Shielding the team from the back was the leader of the delegation, Mr. Ted Rutun, one of four vice presidents of the FSM National Olympic Committee, who was sandwiched between Mrs. Sweeter Daniel and Mrs. Lestly Ashby throughout the parade. Daniel and Ashby are swimming coaches who also assist with administrative tasks for the team.

Along with 203 other teams, FSM was treated with a British-fashion welcome that also featured a number of celebrities including James Bond, Mohamed Ali, Mr. Bean and The Beatles in an unforgettable moment that was blessed with the presence of Queen Elizabeth II who declared the London Olympics open after brief welcome remarks by Lord Sebastian Coe, President of the Local Organizing Committee, and Mr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee.  

At the pinnacle of the ceremony, seven young sportsmen and sportswomen initiated the lighting of the 204 cobber petals that are combined to form a big cauldron of flame, signifying the spirit of the Olympics.

The fact that the Queen declared the games and stayed throughout the elegant display that went past mid-night, and having the young athletes to light the flame that will remain lid for the duration of this event further highlighted the motto and message of this Olympics, “inspire a generation”. The FSM athletes spoke very favorably of the event with anticipation, calling it a precious memory that words cannot fully explain.

Micronesia's Ace at the London Olympics

Marz Akapito
Team Press Attache

London (July 28, 2012): Manuel Minginfel is probably the most widely publicized high level athlete from Micronesia. Among the six athletes from the FSM who will go down in the history of the XXX Olympiad, Minginfel has the deepest depth of experience as he is the only one who shall have been to four Olympics since his country's first debut in 2000. Manuel is simply Micronesia's super star.

And why not? The 33-year old Yapese weightlifter has had an impressive history of dominance in his sport not only in Micronesia but Oceania as well. In June of this year, he was named the best overall lifter at the Oceania Weightlifting Championship in Samoa. Manuel has dedicated half the duration of his young life to the sport he loves so much, and in doing so, he has raised the profile of his country to an unprecedented level and made his people proud to be known as Micronesians. He made international fame when he won a silver medal at an international weightlifting championship held in the city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic about five years ago.

Micronesia has very high hope in Manuel who is keen on breaking his own personal best of 293kg at this Olympics. As he is among the best fifteen in the world walking into this competition, others are even whispering that he might even surprise himself. For Manuel, he is just happy to be back at the Olympics and grateful that he has always been the flag-bearer for his country at the opening ceremonies since FSM's first Olympics in 2000.

Team FSM making its way toward stadium

FSM track athletes at training in London with home coaches

Mihter and Coach Randy prepares for a start trial at training facility near the
Olympic Village

Marz Akapito

FSM Team Press Attache

London (July 27, 2012): After six weeks of intensive training under world-class British coaches from the northwest England region, John Howard and Mihter Wendolin moved to the Olympic Village on July 23 along with the rest of the FSM delegation.

As expectations mounts by the hour, the athletes stay focus and continue to train for the remaining days before they stand behind the start line on competition day. For Wendolin, July 3 is her big day when the 100-meters qualifying round for women takes place beginning 10:40 a.m. The men’s qualifying round will follow the next day at 10:35 a.m.

For the 25-years old female sprinter, the London Olympic Games is her first handle of the World Olympics. She has been to other big events in athletics, including the 2011 World Championships in Athletics held in Daegu, Korea.

John Howard tries the starting block as other athletes look on

Howard has had numerous showings at the World Athletics Series since Edmonton, Canada in 2001. His first Olympic Games experience happened during the centennial anniversary of the modern Olympics in 2004 in Athens, Greece.

Howard and Wendolin are coached by Rendy Germinaro and George Steven in London.

 For inquiries, email the press attaché markapito@gmail.com.

Team FSM introduced at Oceania function in London

Welcome ceremony for Team FSM at the Olympic Village

Marz Akapito
Team Press Attache

Ted Ruthun, Chef de Mission for Team FSM, presented a gift to the Mayor of the Olympic Village during the welcome ceremon at which time the FSM flag was officially raised at the village where it will remain for the duration of the games.

Team FSM was officially welcomed to the Olympic Village in London today at around 2:00p.m. by the Mayor of the village and a group of performers in a brief colorful mixture of poetry, skits, formal address and more carnival type entertainment. The FSM was formally received at the village together with Uganda, Burundi and Nigeria.

Some fun shows by colorful performers marked the spirit of the jolly entertainment that even the h the hut sun could not bother the equally happy audience at the in front of the Village Plaza at the Olympic Village.

The team posed with the Village Mayor at the Olympic Rings stand in front of the Olympic Village. In her brief remark, the Mayor said to the athetes, "...your moment has arrived" and invited the visitors to sign the Olympic Truce Wall at the village as a way to support the UN-packed call for an end to armed conflicts around the globe.

Team FSM ready for XXX Olympiad

 Marz Akapito, FSM Team Attache
July 23, 2012


Years of working for and chasing after their "olympic dream" for the six FSM athletes is now at its final count-down as countries start to make their way to the London Games -- the XXX Olympic Games. Four of the six athletes: John Howard, Mihter Wendolin (Track and Field); Kerson Hadley and Debra Daniel (Swimming) have been training in Liverpool, England since June 11 to put in final preps and climatize to the weather before the Games. They will move to the Olympic Village on July 23.  Manuel Minginfel, Oceania's best weightlifter in 2012, will arrive London on July 24 with other Pacific lifters who have been training at the institute in New Caledonia. Finally, Keitani Graham, making his first debut at the Olympics competing in the 84kg division in Greco-Roman Wrestling, is leaving Honolulu today where he has been training with some USA wrestlers. Although a first-timer at the Olympics, Keitani has been at international competitions the past previous years and has earned his "invitation" by FILA to compete at the Olympics by dominating in his sport not only in Micronesia but the Pacific as well. 

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