Symone Tafuna’i Wins in Auckland

Why this is here: Tafuna’i balances training and competition with work as a social media reporter for Radio New Zealand and modeling, recently walking in multiple New Zealand Fashion Week shows.

Symone Tafuna’i of Samoa won the 100m at the Polynesian athletics championships in Auckland, New Zealand. The sprinter returned to competition after a two-year break caused by injuries and mental health challenges.

Tafuna’i, a domestic violence survivor and advocate, openly shares her experiences to encourage others. She competed for New Zealand at the U20 world championships in Poland earlier in her career.

Tafuna’i now represents Samoa, honoring her family’s heritage from Vaisala and Tanugamanono. She finished the race in 12.19 seconds, approaching her personal best of 11.71 seconds set in 2021. A new support team—including Gary Henley-Smith, Mark Keddell, and Angus Ross—helped her regain confidence.

Beyond athletics, Tafuna’i works as a social media reporter for Radio New Zealand and models. While she aims to break the Samoan 100m record of 11.94s, she emphasizes personal growth and well-being. Her work continues as she prepares for the Oceania championships in Darwin this month.