Duken Holo Tutakitoa-Williams Photo: Team Niue
Niue boxer Duken Holo Tutakitoa-Williams hailed as a shining star and a source of inspiration for athletes in Niue,
Team Niue's chef de mission to the recent 17th Pacific Games in Solomon Island, Sydney Lui told RNZ Pacific that Tutakitoa-Williams, 25, has become an example for many young athletes after winning Niue's first ever gold medal in Honiara.
Tutakitoa-Williams win over Gabriel Dauphin of Tahiti in the 86 kilogram final meant. Niue returned home with one gold and one bronze medal, finishing at 19th place.
Lui said they are proud of their boxer's performance in creating history for the island nation.
"He is a source of motivation to our athletes," she said.
"Him winning the gold medal was the icing on the cake for us."
Last year, the tough boxer had created history when he became the first Niuean athlete to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, claiming a silver in the ring.
This time around he took a step further, from a field that included boxers from around the region, including Australia.
Tutakitoa-Williams posted in Instagram that the win was for all the people of Niue.
"All praise be to God," he write.
"Thank you to everyone who's ever helped me carry out this dream."
"We did it, this was for every single one of y'all," he added.
