View source for Shaka Sola

{{short description|Samoan shot putter and discus thrower (born 1977)}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| image= 
| image_size=
| caption= 
| birth_date= {{birth date and age|1977|3|14}}
| birth_place= [[Motootua]]
| height={{height|m=1.75}}
| weight={{convert|110|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| country= {{SAM}}
| sport =[[Track and field athletics|Athletics]]
| event=[[Shot put]]
| coach =
| highestranking =
| pb=
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Track and field athletics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{SAM}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Pacific Games|(South) Pacific Games]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[Athletics at the 2007 Pacific Games|2007 Apia]] | Shot put}}
{{MedalGold |[[Athletics at the 2003 South Pacific Games|2003 Suva]] | Discus}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Athletics at the 2007 Pacific Games|2007 Apia]] | Discus}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Athletics at the 2003 South Pacific Games|2003 Suva]] | Shot put}}
{{MedalBronze|[[Athletics at the 2011 Pacific Games|2011 Nouméa]]|[[Athletics at the 2011 Pacific Games|Shot put]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Pacific Games#.28South.29 Pacific Mini Games|(South) Pacific Mini Games]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[Athletics at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games|2005 Koror]] | Shot put}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Athletics at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games|2009 Rarotonga]] | Shot put}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Athletics at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games|2005 Koror]] | Discus}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Oceania Athletics Championships|Oceania Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[2011 Oceania Athletics Championships|2011 Apia]] | Discus}}
{{MedalGold |[[2004 Oceania Athletics Championships|2004 Townsville]] | Shot put}}
{{MedalGold |[[2004 Oceania Athletics Championships|2004 Townsville]] | Discus}}
{{MedalSilver |[[2011 Oceania Athletics Championships|2011 Apia]] | Shot put}}
{{MedalSilver |[[2011 Oceania Athletics Championships|2011 Apia]] | Hammer}}
{{MedalBronze |[[2014 Oceania Athletics Championships|2014 Rarotonga]] | Hammer}}
{{MedalBronze |[[2004 Oceania Athletics Championships|2004 Townsville]] | Hammer}}
|updated= 23 May 2015
}}
'''Shaka Sola''' (born 14 March 1977) is a [[Samoa]]n [[shot put]]ter and [[discus]] thrower<ref name=melb_01>
{{ Citation 
| last = 
| first = 
| date = 
| title = Shaka Sola - Biography
| url = http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=110521
| publisher = [[Commonwealth Games Federation]]
| pages = 
| language = 
| accessdate = 22 May 2015
}}
</ref> who became a popular if surprising star at the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]].

==Career==
At the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]], Sola arrived late, having missed his flight from Samoa, and did not reach the games until his specialist event (shot put) had completed. As compensation, he asked to be allowed to compete in the [[Javelin throw|javelin]], although he had never previously thrown a javelin.

Sola finished last in the event by a considerable distance, throwing the javelin 41.18 metres, over 17 metres less than the next worst competitor. He was roundly applauded and supported by the other javelin throwers, however, all of whom were aware of the reasons for his participation in that event.

Sola, though not a spectacular javelin thrower, is more than capable in his own sports. He won gold at the [[2004 Oceania Athletics Championships]] in both discus (with a games record of 53.79m) and shot put (17.86m), and represented Samoa in the discus at the [[2004 Olympic Games]].

In 2005, Sola competed in the [[2005 South Pacific Mini Games|South Pacific Mini Games]] for the first time, winning two medals - one gold and one silver. He first competed in the shot put, throwing 17.74 metres and winning his medal of the games. Sola then competed in the discus and came second place with a throw of 49.33.

==Personal bests==
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
!Event !! Result !! Venue !! Date
|-
| Shot put || '''18.12 m''' || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Wellington]] || 8 Mar 2003
|-
| Discus throw || '''58.82 m''' || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Wellington]] || 12 Feb 2005
|-
| Hammer throw || '''44.34 m''' || {{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Suva]] || 9 Jul 2003
|-
| Javelin throw || '''41.18 m''' || {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Helsinki]] || 9 Aug 2005
|}

== Achievements ==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|class=wikitable style="text-align:center; font-size: 90%;}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{SAM}}
|-
|rowspan=2|1996
|rowspan=2|[[1996 Oceania Junior Athletics Championships|Oceania Junior Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Townsville]], [[Australia]]
|4th
|Shot put
|14.20m
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Discus
|48.04 m
|-
|rowspan=3|2003
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 2003 South Pacific Games|South Pacific Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Suva]], [[Fiji]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Shot put
|15.97 m
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Discus
|50.46 m
|-
|4th
|Hammer
|44.34m
|-
|rowspan=4|2004
|rowspan=3|[[2004 Oceania Athletics Championships|Oceania Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Townsville]], [[Australia]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Shot put
|17.86 m '''[[List of Oceania Athletics Championships records|CR]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Discus
|53.79 m '''[[List of Oceania Athletics Championships records|CR]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Hammer
|45.94 m
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Athens]], [[Greece]]
|36th (q)
|Discus
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's discus throw|51.10m]]
|-
|rowspan=4|2005
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games|South Pacific Mini Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Koror]], [[Palau]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Shot put
|17.74 m
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Discus
|49.33 m
|-
|4th
|Hammer
|40.82m
|-
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]
|31st (q)
|Javelin
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Men's javelin throw|41.18m]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2006
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
|10th
|Shot put
|[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's shot put|16.47m]]
|-
|12th
|Discus
|[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's discus throw|47.74m]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2007 Pacific Games|Pacific Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Apia]], [[Samoa]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Shot put
|16.77 m
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Discus
|48.73 m
|-
|rowspan=4|2009
|rowspan=2|[[2009 Polynesian Championships in Athletics|Polynesian Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Gold Coast, Queensland]], [[Australia]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Shot put
|16.19m
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Discus
|45.14m
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games|Pacific Mini Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Rarotonga]], [[Cook Islands]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Shot put
|16.16 m
|-
|6th
|Discus
|42.70m
|-
|rowspan=5|2011
|rowspan=3|[[2011 Oceania Athletics Championships#Regional Division East|Oceania Championships (Regional Division East)]]
|rowspan=3|[[Apia]], [[Samoa]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Shot put
|15.29 m
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Discus
|43.10 m
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Hammer
|36.04 m
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2011 Pacific Games|Pacific Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Nouméa]], [[New Caledonia]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Shot put
|16.17 m
|-
|6th
|Discus
|43.01m
|-
|rowspan=5|2014
|rowspan=3|[[2014 Oceania Athletics Championships|Oceania Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Rarotonga]], [[Cook Islands]]
|4th
|Shot put
|14.90m
|-
|4th
|Discus
|40.01m
|-
|bgcolor="cc9966"|3rd
|Hammer
|34.23m
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2014 Oceania Athletics Championships|Oceania Masters Championships]] (35y-39y)
|rowspan=2|[[Rarotonga]], [[Cook Islands]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Shot put
|15.04m
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Discus
|40.07m
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{sports links}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418103529/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/shaka-sola-1.html Sports reference biography]

{{Footer New Zealand NC discus men}}
{{Footer New Zealand NC shot put men|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sola, Shaka}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Samoan male shot putters]]
[[Category:Samoan male discus throwers]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Samoa]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Samoa]]
[[Category:Samoan male hammer throwers]]
[[Category:New Zealand Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Pacific Games gold medalists for Samoa]]
[[Category:Pacific Games silver medalists for Samoa]]
[[Category:Pacific Games bronze medalists for Samoa]]
[[Category:Pacific Games medalists in athletics]]


{{Samoa-athletics-bio-stub}}