KOROR, Palau — Tahiti surged ahead on the opening day of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, topping the medal table with 9 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze medals, thanks to dominant performances in swimming and Va’a.
Tahiti made waves in the pool, claiming 5 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze. Its paddlers also swept up 2 gold medals and 1 bronze in the Va’a V1 and V12 events.
The Marshall Islands sits in second place with 3 gold and 1 silver medal, sweeping the men’s wrestling golds in the 65 kg, 92 kg, and 125 kg divisions.
Samoa is close behind with 3 gold medals and 1 bronze. The Samoan team claimed gold in the women’s Va’a V1 500-meter race and secured two more in men’s wrestling (86 kg and 97 kg), while picking up a bronze in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.
The Northern Mariana Islands hold fourth place with 2 golds in swimming, 1 silver in wrestling, and 3 bronze medals. New Caledonia follows with 2 gold and 4 bronze, while the Cook Islands rank sixth with 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.
Host nation Palau sits in seventh place with 1 gold and 1 silver—both in wrestling. Sixteen-year-old Haiden Decherong earned Palau’s first gold medal in the 60 kg weight class.
With eight days of competition remaining, athletes from across the Pacific continue their pursuit of gold and national pride.