Cook Islands oe vaka team paddles to podium with bronze medals

The Cook Islands oe vaka team added two bronze medals to Team Cook Islands’ tally yesterday at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

After two days of competition, the oe vaka team claimed three bronze medals from the sprint events – two bronze medals for Andre Tutaka-George in the men’s V1 500 metres on Sunday and men’s K1 500m yesterday, and one bronze for the women’s V6 500m, with the team of Tara Cumming, Tahiti Isaaka, Lotu Vea, Leilani Sadaraka, Tevai Samuel and Joyce Fortes.

Team manager Alex Herman told Cook Islands News: “Despite the challenges faced with rough weather conditions on day one causing changes to the race programme, the Cook Islands team pulled together and persevered to get the best possible outcomes.”

“The team gave thanks to their coaches, who were unable to travel to Honiara. These were: Fletcher Melvin (women’s water coach), Joe Horn-Smith (land coach) and Reuben Dearlove (men’s water coach).”

As of 7pm last night, Team Cook Islands had five gold, three silver and five bronze medals.