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
Born22 December 1950[1]
Toloa, Tongatapu[1]
Sport
Country Tonga
SportAthletics
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Tonga
Pacific Games
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Nouméa Shot put
Gold medal – first place 1975 Tumon 110m hurdles
Gold medal – first place 1975 Tumon Decathlon
Bronze medal – third place 1971 Papeete Decathlon
Pacific Mini Games
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Nukuʻalofa Shot put
Gold medal – first place 1985 Rarotonga Shot put
Bronze medal – third place 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

edit
National honours

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.