Etoundi wins gold at Pacific Games

Disgraced Australian weightlifter Francois Etoundi has won gold at the Pacific Games, almost a year after he was convicted of assault.

Australian weightlifter Francois Etoundi has claimed victory in his first international competition since being sent home from last year's Commonwealth Games in disgrace.

Etoundi took out the 77kg division snatch at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea with a lift of 135kg.

The competition in Port Moresby is one of the first qualifying events for next year's Rio Olympics.

The 30-year-old dropped off the sporting radar after being sent home from the Glasgow Games when convicted of assault just days after winning a bronze medal for Australia.

The former Cameroonian had his accreditation revoked after headbutting and breaking the nose of Welsh weightlifter Gareth Evans in an early morning incident in the athletes' village.

Etoundi also took out silver in the clean and jerk at the Pacific Games on Monday night with a lift of 166kg.

And he won silver overall with a total of 301kg - just one kilogram behind Papua New Guinea's Philip Toua Udia.

"It's good to come away with some medals," Etoundi told Olympics.com.au.

"This is the first time Australia has competed at the Pacific Games and I like it, the venue is great.

"I've really enjoyed the village and cheering on the other team members."

Etoundi said after the competition he would prepare for the Commonwealth Championships in India later this year.

"Plus nationals are also on in Melbourne," he said.

The final two days of weightlifting at the games continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the women's 69kg and 75kg weight classes and the men's 85kg and 94kg divisions.


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Published 7 July 2015 3:04pm
Updated 11 September 2015 12:06pm
Source: AAP

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