Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga (born 12 May 1991) is a Samoan sportsman who has represented his country in taekwondo[1] and rugby union. He competed in the +80 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics; he was defeated by Anthony Obame in the preliminary round and was eliminated by Robelis Despaigne in the repechage contest.[2]

Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga
Personal information
Born (1991-05-12) 12 May 1991 (age 33)
Faga'alu, American Samoa
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) (2012)
Weight90 kg (200 lb) (2012)
Sport
CountrySamoa
SportTaekwondo
Event+80 kg
Medal record
Men's Taekwondo
Representing  Samoa
Pacific Games
Gold medal – first place 2011 Nouméa -87 kg
Silver medal – second place 2019 Apia +87 kg
Updated on 14 August 2012

Rugby union

edit
Kaino Thomsen
Occupation(s)Rugby union player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Vaimoso Rugby Club
Correct as of 20 May 2014
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–present Vaimoso Rugby Club (?) ()
Correct as of 24 May 2014
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–present Samoa A ? ((?))
Correct as of 24 ay 2014

In December 2012, just four months after London 2012, Thomsen announced he had quit taekwondo due to false promises, empty words and the lack of money.[3] He said he wanted to re-purpose his talents at rugby union after representing Manu Samoa in age grade rugby. In February 2013, he was part of the Samoa A squad in the Pacific Rugby Cup, in which Samoa A came runners up to Fiji Warriors.[4] Just two years after London 2012, Thomsen was then named in the Samoan national rugby union team for their 2014 mid-year tests and 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[5]

In a return to taekwondo for the Pacific Games held in Apia in 2019, Thomsen won a silver medal in a closely contested bout against Australia's Alan Salek in the +87 kg division.[6] He had won a gold medal at the games eight years earlier in Nouméa.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga". 2012 Summer Olympics official website. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga – Events and Results". 2012 Summer Olympics official website. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  3. ^ WHY I’VE QUIT: KAINO
  4. ^ Kaino pursues blue dream
  5. ^ Sport: Manu Samoa names 47-strong squad
  6. ^ "Results". Inside the Games. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
edit