In an interview today with PNG’s Commonwealth Games gold medalist and weightlifter Steven Kari, he shared with EMTV Sports his reasons as to why he didn’t make the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Steven’s coach Douglas Mea, and father Toua Kari both said Steven was discouraged to get back into training after he won gold at both the Commonwealth Games and the Pacific Games, due to several unanswered reasons.
In spite of the many challenges Steven and his family have faced over the past few years, he is ready to prove the critics wrong.
At 21 years of age Kari won his first Commonwealth Games gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Games in the men’s 94kg weight category.
Speaking to EMTV Sports, Steven, who is now 23 years of age, said there were many reasons and challenges he was facing after the Commonwealth Games that led to his absence at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Toua Kari said Steven still has a chance of getting back into training and to prepare himself for the next Olympics in 2020, where he can proudly represent his country and prove the critics wrong.
Despite missing out on the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, Steven said winning gold is something that doesn’t come easy to anyone; it takes courage, hard work and determination, which is what he is working towards to be ready for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
