Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoan Rowing Association is proud to announce the successful participation of four youth rowers and one coach in a prestigious rowing camp held in Sydney, Australia.

Athletes Deshawn Vaisagote, Tupulua Vaouli, Nissi Pula, and Carneal Lili'o Satele, along with Coach Paula StevensonMcDonald, represented American Samoa in this week-long camp, focusing on enhancing their skills in beach sprints, a newly added Olympic sport for 2028.

Over the course of the week, the young athletes engaged in a variety of drills and exercises aimed at developing their rowing techniques, with a special focus on beach sprints. The camp culminated in a competitive regatta, where Tupulua Vaouli took home a Silver Medal and Nissi Pula earned a Bronze Medal in the female category. Both boys made it to the final rounds, showcasing their dedication and talent, though they did not medal in the final race.

Family and friends from American Samoa oQered their support and best wishes from home, eagerly awaiting the team's return to celebrate their achievements.

Coach Paula Stevenson-McDonald expressed her pride in the team’s performance and the immense value of the experience:  

“This was an invaluable experience for our kids. It's one thing to try and learn this exciting new sport with the limited resources we have in Pago Pago, but to attend a week-long camp with world-class coaching and resources… this will go a long way in helping our young athletes prepare and grow.”

Coach Paula also highlighted the camp's role in fostering camaraderie:  

“These kids were able to meet and compete with other rowers from Oceania, forging new friendships that will stay with them for a lifetime. Overall, it was a great experience for them.”

The youth development camp was held at the Sydney Academy of Sports & Recreation. 

Olympian medalist Laryssa Biesenthal led the development camp along with fellow Olympian Spencer Turin and others who all dedicated their time and experience to help develop the next generation of Oceanic rowers.  

The American Samoan Rowing Association is eager to continue supporting the development of rowing in the territory, particularly in coastal rowing. For more information on how your child can participate, please contact Coach Paula at 633-3050.