Reanna Solomon

Reanna Solomon
Personal information
Born16 December 1981
Meneng, Nauru[1]
Died1 July 2022(2022-07-01) (aged 40)
Denigomodu, Nauru
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight136 kg (300 lb)
Sport
Country Nauru
SportWeightlifting
Medal record
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Manchester 75 kg+

Reanna Solomon (16 December 1981 – 1 July 2022) was a Nauruan weightlifter. She was the first female Nauruan athlete to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal, and remains one of the only three Nauruans ever to have won a Commonwealth Games gold, the others being Marcus Stephen and Yukio Peter.

Solomon competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She lifted 127.5 kg in the Women's 75 kg+ Clean and Jerk, winning the gold medal, and won another gold medal by lifting 227.5 kg in the Women's 75 kg+ Combined. In the Women's 75 kg+ Snatch she took the bronze, lifting 100 kg.[2][3]

Solomon also took part in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.[4]

Solomon died from COVID-19 on 1 July 2022, at the age of 40.[5][6] The Oceania Weightlifting Federation released a statement in tribute to her.[7] Her death was the first in Nauru to be caused by COVID-19.[5] President of Nauru Lionel Aingimea offered condolences to her family.[8] In August 2022, 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Maximina Uepa dedicated her medal to Solomon.[9]

  1. ^ "Official website of the 2002 Commonwealth Games". Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  2. ^ Official results Archived 10 August 2002 at archive.today on the website of the Commonwealth Games
  3. ^ "Commonwealth Games: Nauru leads Pacific in Manchester". Pacific Magazine. 4 August 2002.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "History". National Olympic Committee of Nauru. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
  5. ^ a b Oliver, Brian (6 July 2022). "Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion dies of COVID-19 aged 40". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Reanna Solomon, Commonwealth weightlifting gold medallist, dies of Covid aged 40". WIONews. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Vale Reanna Solomon – Nauru". Oceania Weightlifting Federation. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Covid-19: Nauru records first death; Niue records 10 community cases". Loop Nauru. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  9. ^ Iveson, Alin (2 August 2022). "Nauru weightlifter dedicates medal to ex-champion mother of five killed by COVID". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 1 August 2024.