Sport in Samoa

Sports such as mixed martial arts, boxing, professional wrestling, and volleyball are popular among most ethnic Samoans regardless of location.

Players of Samoan descent have been part of every Rugby League World Cup-winning side for either New Zealand Kiwis or Australian Kangaroos since 2008.

At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Cahill was part of the winning Australian Socceroos squad, defeating South Korea 2–1 in the final.

[3] The governing body for the sport is the Samoa Australian Rules Football Association,[4] first formed in 1998 and the national team, which first competed at the Arafura Games is known as the Bulldogs, the name being chosen as the AFL's Western Bulldogs wore the Samoan national colours and has sent some professional players to visit the islands on clinics.

AFL players to visit Samoa for coaching clinics include Dermott Brereton, Brad Johnson and Steven Kretiuk.

[8] David Tua challenged Englishman Lennox Lewis on 11 November 2000 for the WBC and IBF world heavyweight titles, losing by unanimous points decision.

[9] On 26 April 2014, Alex Leapai challenged long-reigning WBO, WBA Super and IBF world heavyweight champion Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, losing by fifth round stoppage.

[14] During his amateur career, Jimmy Peau won the gold medal in the heavyweight division for New Zealand at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.

[15] Amateur boxers representing Samoa have performed well at various Commonwealth Games, winning silver and bronze medals dating back to 1974.

In 2001, unheralded newcomer Mark Hunt won the K-1 World Grand Prix defeating Frenchman Jerome LeBanner (2nd round KO), German Stefan Leko (unanimous points decision) and Brazilian Francisco Filho (extended round unanimous points decision) in a single night to become the only non-European fighter to win the prestigious event.

[16] Crowd favourite Ray Sefo had reached the K-1 World Grand Prix final in 2000, losing to Dutchman Ernesto Hoost by unanimous points decision.

Mixed martial artists of Samoan descent who have fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) are Mark Hunt, Max Holloway, Kendall Grove, Andre Fili, Robert Whittaker, Tyson Pedro, Tai Tuivasa, Maki Pitolo, Justin Tafa, Carlos Ulberg, Falaniko Vitale and Kailin Curran.

[20] The interim championship status of Whittaker would eventually be elevated to undisputed when incumbent champion Georges St-Pierre retired in late 2017.

Eric Fonoimoana (along with partner Dain Blanton representing the United States) won the gold medal for Beach volleyball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Other notable Samoan wrestlers include Sarona Snuka, Nuufolau Seanoa, Cheree Crowley, Danielle Kamela, Emily Dole, and Sonny Siaki.

[28] Greg Louganis won four gold medals and one silver for Diving in consecutive Games from 1976 to 1988 representing the United States.

In 1984, Robin Leamy won a gold medal for swimming as a member of the United States men's 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.

[32][33] Rugby sevens players of Samoan descent played in the women's gold medal final at the 2016 Summer Olympics.