Sanitesi Latu

Sanitesi Latu (born 22 December 1950) is a former Tongan Athlete who has represented Tonga at the Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, and Pacific Mini Games.

Sanitesi Latu

Personal information
Born	22 December 1950^[1] Toloa, Tongatapu^[1]
Sport
Country	Tonga
Sport	Athletics
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing  Tonga Pacific Games 1987 Nouméa Shot put 1975 Tumon 110m hurdles 1975 Tumon Decathlon 1971 Papeete Decathlon Pacific Mini Games 1989 Nukuʻalofa Shot put 1985 Rarotonga Shot put 1985 Rarotonga Discus

Latu was born in Toloa on the island on Tongatapu.^[1]

He competed in the 1969 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby as a high jumper,^[2] without success. At the 1971 South Pacific Games in Papeete he won bronze in the Decathlon.^[3] He then competed in the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, coming 5th in the decathlon.^[4][5] After the Commonwealth Games he moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he worked as a storeman and gained permanent residency.^[6] He contested the 1975 South Pacific Games in Tumon, Guam, winning gold in both the 110 metres hurdles and the Decathlon.^[3] In 1974 and 1978 he was Australian champion in the decathlon. His Australian residency meant he was unable to compete in the 1979 South Pacific Games.^[7][8]

At the 1982 Commonwealth Games he retired from the decathlon. At the 1985 South Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga he won gold in the shot put and bronze in the discus.^[3] At the 1987 South Pacific Games in Nouméa he won bronze in the shot put.^[3] At the 1989 South Pacific Mini Games in Nukuʻalofa he won bronze in the shot put.^[3]

In December 2009 he was inducted into the Tonga National Sports Hall of Fame.^[1]

Honours

National honours

•   Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Member (31 July 2008).^[9]

References

1. "Seven named for the National Sports Hall of Fame". Matangi Tonga. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
2. "FEWER ATHLETES AT GAMES-BUT BEST YET TIMES EXPECTED". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 40, no. 8. 31 July 1969. p. 29. Retrieved 31 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Sanitesi Latu". Athletics Podium. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
4. ""Sideline" manager elated". The Press. 31 January 1974. p. 18. Retrieved 31 July 2022 – via Papers Past.
5. "The Pacific way doesn't win medals". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 45, no. 3. 1 March 1974. p. 11. Retrieved 31 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Tongan to stay". The Press. 18 July 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 31 July 2022 – via Papers Past.
7. "LAST OF THE SUPER GAMES". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 50, no. 10. 30 September 1979. p. 10. Retrieved 31 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES New training methods only hope". Canberra Times. 9 September 1979. p. 22. Retrieved 31 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
9. . Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.