View source for Dika Toua

{{Short description|Papua New Guinean weightlifter (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| image          = 
| image_size     =
| caption        = 
| birth_name     = 
| fullname       = 
| nickname       = 
| nationality    = Papua New Guinean
| residence      = [[Port Moresby]], Papua New Guinea
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|6|23}}
| birth_place    = [[Port Moresby]]
| height         = {{height|m=1.5}}
| weight         = {{convert|48-53|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| country        = {{flagcountry|Papua New Guinea}}
| sport          = [[Olympic weightlifting|Weightlifting]]
| event          = Women's 53&nbsp;kg
| collegeteam    = 
| universityteam = 
| club           = 
| team           = 
| turnedpro      = 
| partner        = 
| former_partner = 
| coach          = Paul Coffa
| retired        = 
| coaching       = 
| worlds         = 4
| regionals      = 
| nationals      = 
| olympics       = 5
| highestranking = 
| pb             = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Women's [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{PNG}}}}
{{MedalComp|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Weightlifting at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]]|[[Weightlifting at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Weightlifting at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]|[[Weightlifting at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Weightlifting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games|2018 Gold Coast]]|[[Weightlifting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]]}}
{{MedalComp|[[Pacific Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2007 South Pacific Games|2007 Apia]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[Weightlifting at the 2011 Pacific Games|2011 Nouméa]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[Weightlifting at the 2019 Pacific Games|2019 Apia]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[Weightlifting at the 2023 Pacific Games|2023 Honiara]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalComp|[[Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships|Commonwealth Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships|2012 Apia]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2015 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships|2015 Pune]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2019 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships|2019 Apia]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2017 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships|2017 Gold Coast]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalComp|[[Pacific Mini Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Weightlifting at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games|2017 Port Vila]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[Weightlifting at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games|2021 Saipan]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalComp|[[Oceania Weightlifting Championships|Oceania Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|2002 Suva|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|2003 Nuku'alofa|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|2004 Suva|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|2005 Melbourne|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|2007 Apia|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|2008 Auckland|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2012 Apia]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2013 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2013 Brisbane]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2014 Le Mont-Dore]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2017 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2017 Gold Coast]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2018 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2018 Le Mont-Dore]]|53 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2019 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2019 Apia]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2022 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2022 Saipan]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2023 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2023 Honiara]]|49 kg}}
{{MedalGold|[[2024 Oceania Weightlifting Championships|2024 Auckland]]|49 kg}}
| show-medals    = no
}}

'''Loa Dika Toua''' (born 23 June 1984) is a [[Papua New Guinea]]n [[Olympic weightlifting|Olympian weightlifter]]. She competed at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], in the [[Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 49 kg|women's 49 kg]] class.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Weightlifting TOUA Loa Dika|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/weightlifting/athlete-profile-n1282119-toua-loa-dika.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-09-04|work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]]|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727032022/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/weightlifting/athlete-profile-n1282119-toua-loa-dika.htm |archive-date=27 July 2021 }}</ref>

She currently competes in the 49&nbsp;kg weight class. She is a 15 time, and current, Oceania champion and a former Commonwealth champion.<ref name="IWF results">{{cite web|title=TOUA Dika |publisher=International Weightlifting Federation |url=http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=372 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527163430/http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=372 |archivedate=27 May 2011}}</ref> She is also the current [[Pacific Games]] champion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3579-0-0-0&sID=49486 |title=2007 South Pacific Games: Women's Weightlifting results |access-date=2 September 2007 |archive-date=24 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324061523/http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3579-0-0-0&sID=49486 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.thenational.com.pg/082907/sports1.htm The National (PNG): "Day of medals", 29 August 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219205136/http://www.thenational.com.pg/082907/sports1.htm |date=19 December 2007 }}</ref>

==Career==
===Olympic games===
At just 16 years of age, she was the inaugural woman to lift weight at an Olympic event, competing in the 48&nbsp;kg category at the Sydney [[2000 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="Oly">[http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2609 "Toua lifting the hearts of an island"] [sic], Olympic.org</ref> Toua finished in tenth place with a total lift of 117.5&nbsp;kg.

She was the national flag bearer at the Athens [[2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]]. This time competing in the [[Weightlifting at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 53 kg|women's 53 kg]] weight class, she lifted a total of 177.5&nbsp;kg to place sixth.<ref>{{cite web|title=TOUA Dika |publisher=International Weightlifting Federation |url=http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=589 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527163415/http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=589 |archivedate=27 May 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Toua qualified for Papua New Guinea in the [[Weightlifting at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 53 kg|women's 53 kg]] event at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]].<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2266955.htm?tab=sport "PNG Olympians land major sponsors"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607085145/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2266955.htm?tab=sport |date=7 June 2008 }}, ABC Radio Australia, 6 June 2008</ref> There she ranked 7th with a total lift of 184&nbsp;kg which was her highest personal lift overall at any [[Olympics]] she has attended to date.<ref name="IWF results" />

She again, for the fourth consecutive time, represented Papua New Guinea at the London [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Lifting a total of 174&nbsp;kg, the veteran weightlifter finished in 12th after [[Zulfiya Chinshanlo]] of [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Cristina Iovu]] of [[Moldova]] were disqualified.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Dika Toua Bio, Stats, and Results|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/dika-toua-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418004436/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/dika-toua-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2020-04-18|website = Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|accessdate = 2015-08-17}}</ref>

She represented Papua New Guinea, for the fifth  time at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], where she placed 10th.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miranda|first=Gabriela|title=Weightlifter Loa Dika Toua 'never imagined' competing in a second Olympics. She just shattered a record with her fifth.|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/07/24/woman-weightlifter-loa-dika-toua-sets-record-2021-olympics-tokyo/8080300002/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-23|title=Weightlifting record-breaker Dika back on platform, 21 years after Olympic debut|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1110648/weightlifting-record-dika-toua-olympics|access-date=2021-09-04|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-24|title=Weightlifting-Papua New Guinea's Toua becomes first 5-time woman Olympian lifter|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/olympics-weightlifting-papua-new-guineas-toua-becomes-first-5-time-woman-2021-07-24/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref>

===Commonwealth games===
In 2002 she attended the Manchester Commonwealth Games at the 48&nbsp;kg weight category, lifting 75&nbsp;kg in the clean and jerk which would have placed her 4th, official records show no weight in the snatch.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Papua New Guinea Manchester 2002 {{!}} Commonwealth Games Federation|url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3028/50/all|access-date=2021-07-23|website=thecgf.com|language=en}}</ref>

In 2006, she won the silver medal in the 53&nbsp;kg weight class at the [[Weightlifting at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>[http://sports123.com/wei/results/wco-53-2006.html Sports 123: Weightlifting: Commonwealth Games 2006: Women: -53 kg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111612/http://sports123.com/wei/results/wco-53-2006.html |date=29 September 2007 }}</ref> It was her first major achievement at an international competition.

Competing in the same category at the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]], she won the silver medal, with a lift of 193&nbsp;kg, just 3 kilos short of the gold and new games record.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/weightlifting/1024088/d_toua.html|title = Commonwealth Games Biography - Dika Toua|date = 8 August 2014|accessdate = 17 August 2015|archive-date = 7 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150607005521/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/weightlifting/1024088/d_toua.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> Days later, the original gold medalist, 16-year-old [[Chika Amalaha]] of Nigeria failed a doping test and was stripped of her medal and placement.<ref>{{cite news |title= Nigeria weightlifter Chika Amalaha stripped of Commonwealth Games gold |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/aug/01/chika-amalaha-weightlifting-glasgow-drugs |work= The Guardian|date= 1 August 2014 |accessdate= 2 August 2014}}</ref> With the medals redistributed, Toua was now the gold medalist and her lift of 193&nbsp;kg became the new games record.<ref>{{Cite web|title= Glasgow 2014 - Women's 53kg Group A|url= http://g2014results.thecgf.com/PEVU/PEVU_WLW053A01.html|website= g2014results.thecgf.com|accessdate= 2015-08-17|archive-date= 16 July 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150716045747/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/PEVU/PEVU_WLW053A01.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>

In [[Weightlifting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games|2018]], competing in her third games in the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] she placed second once again for her second Commonwealth games silver and third medal overall. She was 10 kilos behind the gold medalist after failing her last two lifts.<ref>{{cite news |title= Toua bags silver this time |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/png-veteran-weightlifter-dika-toua-thrilled-with/9628194 |publisher= ABC Australia |date= 5 April 2018 |accessdate= 6 April 2018}}</ref> A month after the games ended the [[International Weightlifting Federation]], in June, announced that the original winner, [[Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu]] of India, tested positive for testosterone from her A sample after the [[2017 World Weightlifting Championships|2017 World Championships]]. The IWF had stated that if the Indian weightlifters B sample also returns positive.<ref>{{cite news |title= Sport: PNG lifter in line for gold after opponent fails doping test |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/358748/sport-png-lifter-in-line-for-gold-after-opponent-fails-doping-test |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date= 4 June 2018 |accessdate= 4 June 2018}}</ref> In January 2019 the [[International Weightlifting Federation|IWF]] has revoked the provisional suspension of Chanu and let to keep her gold medal.<ref>{{cite news |title= CWG gold medallist weightlifter Sanjita Chanu's provisional suspension revoked|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/cwg-gold-medallist-weightlifter-sanjita-chanu-s-provisional-suspension-revoked-1437137-2019-01-23|publisher=[[India Today]]|date= 23 January 2019 |accessdate= 29 May 2020}}</ref>

She finished in 5th place in the [[Weightlifting at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Women's 49 kg|women's 49 kg]] event at the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]] held in Birmingham, England.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rowbottom |first=Mike |date=30 July 2022 |title=India's Chanu reigns supreme in women's weightlifting 49kg class |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1126403/chanu-india-weightlifting |access-date=30 July 2022}}</ref>

==Major results==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2 width=40 | Year
! rowspan=2 width=250 | Venue
! rowspan=2 width=60 | Weight
! colspan=4 | Snatch (kg)
! colspan=4 | Clean & Jerk (kg)
! rowspan=2 width=40 |  Total
! rowspan=2 width=40 |  Rank
|-
! width=40 | 1
! width=40 | 2
! width=40 | 3
! width=40 | Rank
! width=40 | 1
! width=40 | 2
! width=40 | 3
! width=40 | Rank
|-
! colspan=13 | [[Weightlifting at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|-
| [[Weightlifting at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] || align=left | {{flag icon|AUS}} [[Sydney]], Australia || [[Weightlifting at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 48 kg|48 kg]] || <s>45 </s>|| 45 || '''50''' || 10 || 62.5 || '''67.5''' || <s>72.5 </s>|| 10 || '''117.5''' || 10
|-
| [[Weightlifting at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004]] || align=left | {{flag icon|GRE}} [[Athens]], Greece || [[Weightlifting at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || 70 || '''75''' || <s>80 </s>|| 7 || 92.5 || 97.5 || '''102.5''' || 6 || '''177.5''' || 6
|-
| [[Weightlifting at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008]] || align=left | {{flag icon|CHN}} [[Beijing]], China || [[Weightlifting at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || <s>77 </s>|| 77 || '''80''' || 7 || '''104''' || <s>108 </s>|| <s>108 </s>|| 6 ||'''184''' || 7
|-
| [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012]] || align=left | {{flag icon|GBR}} [[London]], Great Britain || [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || 75 || <s>79 </s>|| '''79''' || 12 || '''95''' || <s>100 </s>|| <s>100 </s>|| 12 || '''174''' || 12
|-
| [[Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2021]] || align=left | {{flag icon|JPN}} [[Tokyo]], Japan || [[Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics - Women's 49 kg|49 kg]] || 69 || '''72''' || <s>76 </s>|| 12 || <s>95 </s> || '''95''' || <s>100 </s> || 8 || '''167''' || 10
|-
! colspan=13 | [[World Weightlifting Championships|World Championships]]
|-
| [[2003 World Weightlifting Championships|2003]] || align=left | {{flag icon|CAN}} [[Vancouver]], Canada || [[2003 World Weightlifting Championships – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || 65 || '''70''' || <s>72.5 </s>|| 21 || 87.5 || '''92.5''' || <s>95 </s>|| 21 || '''162.5''' || 21
|-
| [[2005 World Weightlifting Championships|2005]] || align=left | {{flag icon|QAT}} [[Doha]], [[Qatar]] || [[2005 World Weightlifting Championships – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || <s>77 </s>|| '''79''' || <s>83 </s>|| 9 || <s>105 </s>|| <s>105 </s>|| <s>105 </s>|| -- || -- || --
|-
| [[2007 World Weightlifting Championships|2007]] || align=left | {{flag icon|DOM}} [[Santo Domingo]], [[Dominican Republic]] || [[2007 World Weightlifting Championships – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || '''74''' || <s>78 </s>|| <s>78 </s>|| 30 || 96 || <s>101 </s>|| '''101''' || 18 || '''175''' || 22
|-
| [[2015 World Weightlifting Championships|2015]] || align=left | {{flag icon|USA}} [[Houston]], United States || [[2015 World Weightlifting Championships – Women's 53 kg|53 kg]] || 76 || <s>80 </s>|| '''80''' || 22 || '''103''' || <s>106 </s>|| <s>109 </s>|| 20 || '''183''' || 20
|-

|}

==Personal life==
Toua gave birth to her first child in 2007 to husband, Mavera Gavera. She now has two children, Paul and Ani-Geua.<ref>{{cite news |title=Toua and family |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/toua-reunites-with-her-children/ |publisher= The National |date=11 August 2014 |accessdate= 11 August 2014 }}</ref> She owns her own weightlifting club in [[Port Moresby]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dika Toua background |url=https://www.pngfacts.com/papua-new-guinea-sports-heroes/toua-dika |publisher= PNG facts |date=7 January 2013 |accessdate= 7 January 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{sports links}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080912212821/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/1/8000921.shtml Athlete Biography] at beijing2008
*[https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/athens2004/png/Dika+Toua/392890 Yahoo! Sports]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Xenia Peni]]
| title = [[List of flag bearers for Papua New Guinea at the Olympics|Flagbearer]] for {{PNG}}
| years = [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens 2004]]
| after = [[Ryan Pini]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Games Champions Weightlifting Women Featherweight}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toua, Dika}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean female weightlifters]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic weightlifters for Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2018 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Weightlifters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the National Capital District (Papua New Guinea)]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Pacific Games gold medalists for Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Pacific Games medalists in weightlifting]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in weightlifting]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in weightlifting]]