Seven golds and chef de mission George George is stoked
Chef de mission George George says it was a great feeling to be a Cook Islander last Friday when the Cooks won seven gold medals.
“I think this is the first time in the history of the games that we have won seven gold medals on one day.
“It was the first time that I have known at the same flag raising ceremony that the same national anthem has been played four times in a row,” says George of the four golds won in the golf competition.
“It was an awesome feeling – not only for our golfers, but also our bowlers and touch players.”
George, who was at the BCI Stadium on Saturday morning to see the end of the half marathon, also took time out to congratulate Mau George for his bronze medal effort in the shot put.
He only found out about the medal that morning. The bronze medallist was with the relay athletes who were training that morning.
On Saturday Mau George threw a distance of 32.96m in the discus event.
However, the chef de mission says ‘Golden Friday’ was marred by an anonymous letter written to Cook Islands News, alleging that athlete Harmon Harmon had faked the severity of his hamstring injury in the octathlon event.
“To have a rocket scientist saying that Harmon faked his injury is not on. Young Harmon has carried the Cook Islands flag for a long time, he’s been there and done that,” says George.
“Obviously this rocket scientist has never been there because if he has, he would have put his name down. Harmon won the gold for the octathlon at the last games [Palau] – why would he want to fake an injury? He’s hurting from those comments, his coach [dad] Harmon senior is also hurting but I know that they won’t say anything and they will take it in their stride. If anyone has a problem with us, put your name to your letter or better still, come and see me.” - Moana Moeka’a: Cook Islands News