By Gina Maka’a

Winning three gold medals for her country is great, but doing it in front of her mother, relatives and the home crowd is extra special.

That’s how Iron lady Jenly Wini felt after she scooped the first three gold medals for Solomon Islands this morning in the Pacific Games Women’s 55kg category.

“I feel happy and excited because I have families, friends and the local crowd cheering for me right here at home,” a smiling Wini told reporters.

^{Ms Wini’s family embracing her after her win}

“Therefore, I always do what I did all the time in any competitions – that is to focus and lift the weights up so I am very happy to win these three gold medals,” she added.

Wini stated reaching the Oceania record weights was also important for her.

^{Jenly Wini speaks with the Prime Minister after presenting her gold medals}

She lifted a total of 190kg (82kg in snatch and 108kg in clean and jerk)  as her last competition in any Pacific Games.

“This will be my last Pacific Game but I will continue with other competitions for the next three years,” she announced.

Wini also shared her excitement for her teammate Lorah Maelosia, who secured silver in the same category by lifting a total of 170kg (76kg and 83kg clean and jerk).

In the men’s category Brown Ramohaka has also won two gold medals and one silver competing in the 61kg men’s weight category, while in the men’s 55kg weight-lifting category Philip Masi also snatched 3 medals – one silver and two bronze for the country.

^{Brown Ramohaka posing with medals after his win today(PC:SINIS Media)}

Another athlete scooping medals for the country who competed in the 45kg-49kg weightlifting division is Rowena Donga who snatched two silver and one bronze medals.

Solomon Islands today scooped 17 medals, five gold medals, eight silver and four bronze medals today.