Lei's Blog

Samoa’s Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club (OCC) delivered an outstanding performance at the Waitui International Regatta, returning to the podium  with a strong medal showing and a historic victory in the Masters division. 

The Pualele Masters Men led the campaign, claiming gold in the V6 Marathon, along  with silver medals in both the 500m sprint and 1000m turns. The result carries special significance. The last Waitui International was held 14 years  ago — where Pualele’s Masters Men also took gold in the marathon — making this year’s  victory a powerful full-circle moment for the club. 

Pualele’s golden girl, Marie-Louise Talouli, delivered a dominant performance across  both team and individual events. Racing with Takia OCC, she secured three gold medals  in the V6 Marathon, 500m, and 1000m events, while under Pualele colours she claimed  gold in the V1 Marathon and silver in the V1 500m sprint, cementing her status as one of  the region’s standout paddlers. 

In a press release from the Pualele OCC, Marie reflected on her achievement, she mentioned that the achievement means a lot to her as it is a reflection of all her hard work, early mornings and sacrifices that occurred behind closed doors.

For her, walking away with four gold medals and a silver medal in Fiji considering Fiji is also one of her home countries, is very special and she isn’t taking it for granted.

The experience itself act as a reminder for her to stay humble, keep learning and continue working hard towards her goals. She is grateful for all the support she has received, thankful to be part of a great, fun, and strong team.

She extended her gratitude to her dad who is also her coach for being her guiding light throughout. To her mum Sera who believed in her and pushed her beyond her limits. 

Pualele OCC President, Maxine Sausi-Mailo, reflected on the team’s performance and  the significance of the campaign. 

“We are incredibly proud of our crews. This reflects the hard work on the water and the  unity of our whole Pualele family,” she said.

“With the return of Waitui after 14 years, to bring home the Masters Marathon gold is  really special for us. It shows the resilience of our team and the strength of what we’re  building. It’s about more than medals — it’s about representing Samoa with pride and  continuing to grow our sport for our people.” 

The Pualele President also congratulated another Samoan paddler, Jayde Leota, of  Nafanua OCC, who delivered a strong performance winning the V1 16km marathon at  the 2026 Waitui International.  

Head coach, Faumuina Anthony Talouli, acknowledged the preparation and  commitment shown by the team. 

“I couldn’t be more proud. Our Masters lads trained hard and prepared well over the last  ten weeks. Marie-Louise also did exceptionally well, bringing home four golds and a  silver.” 

He acknowledged the wider support behind the campaign. 

“We couldn’t have done it without our great support crew of wives and children. It was a  great event with excellent hosts, and we know we have some unfinished business — we’re looking forward to the next one,” he added. 

“We also want to send out a special thank you to Takia OCC for the use of the va’as and  to Fiji Outrigger for hosting such a fantastic event.” 

The Waitui International Regatta remains one of Fiji’s premier paddling events, bringing  together clubs from across the Pacific in a celebration of competition, culture, and  community. 

Pualele OCC extends their heartfelt appreciation to the continued support from the  Pualele family, the Samoa Outrigger Canoe Association (SOCA), and the wider paddling  community back home in Samoa, whose encouragement and belief have played a vital  role in this campaign.