Meamea Thomas, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetMeamea Thomas
Kiribati weightlifter
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
About Meamea Thomas
- Meamea Thomas (born 11 September 1987 in Tarawa, died c.
- 23 June 2013) was an I-Kiribati weightlifter. Thomas represented Kiribati in the men's 85 kg event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
- He was, at that time, ranked 63rd in the world.
- He finished 13th, having lifted 292.5 kg.
- He was also his country's flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony.
- He had previously won gold in the same event at the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva.
- He did not take part in the 2008 Olympics.In all, he won two gold medals at the 2003 South Pacific Games, and three at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.
- He won silver at the 2011 Pacific Games, and was twice Oceania Champion: in 2004 and 2010.On or around 23 June 2013, he was killed in an accident in his home country, at the age of 25.
- He saw a bicycle rider about to be hit by a speeding car, and pushed the rider to safety.
- He was hit instead, and died instantly.
- The driver of the car was drunk.
- Paul Coffa, General Secretary of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, paid tribute to his heroism in sacrificing himself to save a life.
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