Lauititi Lui on the mend

By Ulimasao Fata 24 April 2018, 12:00AM

Samoa’s super heavy weight weightlifter, Lauititi Lui, is currently in rehab. 

Lui won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where he also sustained a knee injury. 

His anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus (joint part of the knee) were both damaged, according to Samoa National Weightlifting Team Coach, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork.

Tuaopepe is thankful that Lui’s operation went well.   

He was also grateful of the opportunity for Lui to be treated immediately in Australia by experienced surgeons.   

“After his competition on April 10th he had to undergo operation on April 12th. He had his surgery and we were grateful to get an opportunity with a well experienced orthopedic surgeon to conduct his surgery.”

“This orthopedic surgeon is a well-experienced surgeon who conducted operation on injured athletes from rugby league and rugby in Australia.”

“I was 100 percent sure that it was better for him to have his operation there than coming here, so he had his operation and now it’s done.”

He also mentioned that Lui is still in Australia at the moment and he’s in his rehabilitation and recovery period.

“His A.C.L. was damaged as well as his meniscus and had affected the movement of his knee.”

“So he had be operated right away if not he would not be able to compete anymore. He will only be able to walk but he would not be able to compete.”

 “He started his first week of rehab programme in the last week of the Commonwealth Games inside the village where Team Samoa was accommodated at but now he’s back with his own family to continue his rehabilitation programme.”

“He will be back in the country on 6th May but we are just grateful to God that he is doing fine now.”   

“We are looking at about six months for Lauititi Lui to recover, but hopefully by the end of the year he will be back to training, heavy training and prepare for next year’s competitions.”

Tuaopepe wasn’t able to confirm if Lui would be able to participate for the 2019 Pacific Games but he believes Lui is an asset to the national weightlifting team in the competition next year.

 “We are still looking at it but at the same time we want him to have enough time for his recovery period. At the moment I can guarantee that he will be fit for the Oceania Qualifier and South Pacific Games next year.”

“Lauititi Lui is Samoa’s first super heavy weight who has achieved so much for Samoa as a weightlifter. We have had few weightlifters coming but we never had a super heavy weight to achieve such ranking that Lauititi Lui has.”

 “Because our tournament next year will be a huge event with 42 countries coming from Commonwealth, Oceania, Pacific Games and Olympic Qualification, we really need Lauititi Lui to be available for our super heavy weight division.”

“By August or September we will try and reassess his preparations.” 

By Ulimasao Fata 24 April 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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