Talofa lava,

My name is Peniamina Percival, and I am a judo athlete from Samoa. On the 11th of November I will be competing in the Perth Oceania Open, and on the 26th of November, the Hong Kong Asian Open. In early December I will also compete in the prestigious Tokyo Grand Slam.

Growing up in Samoa, rugby was the sport of choice for most youngsters, including myself. However, I reached a moment when I realized that I wanted to try something different. This decision led me to pursue my passion for judo, a journey that began at the age of 13.

Since those early days, my journey has been tough but I persevered and kept my burning passion for the sport. My first experience competing for Samoa was at the Pacific Games in 2019, where I earned a bronze medal that fueled my determination to excel further. The experience inspired me to take my judo journey to the bigger international stage, competing in competitions around the world, and taking me to the pinnacle of global sports: the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Judo has not only taken me across the globe for competitions and training but has helped me build meaningful friendships with fellow athletes from diverse backgrounds.

At Tenri Univeristy judo dojo with Lasha Shavdatuashvili, one of the worlds best judo players currently competing on the international circuit, from Georgia .

Over the past two years, I have been blessed with the extraordinary opportunity to train at Tenri University, renowned for producing world-class judo champions, including several Olympic gold medalists. This invaluable experience has honed my skills, elevated my mindset, and fueled my aspirations for upcoming challenges, with my sights set on the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Qualifying for the Olympics in judo is an arduous journey that involves competing in international tournaments and accruing points through these events. I believe I have a good chance to secure one of the 5 continental spots dedicated to Oceania men. However, this pursuit comes with substantial financial demands.

Unfortunately, the Judo Association of Samoa faces financial constraints that limit their capacity to support my journey. The expenses associated with participation in global events, including extensive travel and mandatory stays in official competition hotels, pose a significant hurdle to my progress. For the competitions leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, I was fortunate to receive great support from friends and family through crowdfunding efforts. Since last year, the International Judo Federation has generously supported me for a couple competitions (and is supporting me for my upcoming competition in Perth), which I am genuinely grateful for. However, the financial assistance provided is not enough to sustain myself in Japan, where it is not cheap, and where my visa restricts employment, compounded by the intensity of my daily training regimen.

If you would like to support me in getting to international judo competitions to qualify for my second Olympics, and my plans to continue training in Japan, I would deeply appreciate it! Your support, in any form, will help me to dedicate myself to training and preparation, and help cover travel and accommodation costs for competitions, and it will improve my chances of achieving my dream to compete in the Olympics once again.

Moreover, if a company wishes to become an official sponsor for me, I can showcase their brand and values across various platforms during tournaments I compete in leading up to the Olympics. This includes prominently displaying their logo on my Judo Gi (uniform), acknowledging their support in interviews, press releases, and through social media platforms.

Samoa, along with other Pacific Island nations, is plagued by two major issues: non-communicable diseases and a culture of violence. Central to my goals is the promotion of judo and self-defense as tools for positive change. As an IOC Young Leader for 2023-2026, I am currently developing a project that will use Judo and self-defense as a strategy to promote well-being through physical training, self-discipline, and healthy diets, as well as foster social harmony through the inclusion of all. The project also aims to decrease violence in Samoa by safeguarding victims, and by promoting a healthier means of channeling negative emotions through physical expression rather than aggression.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my GoFundMe campaign. Your support, no matter the size, would greatly help me to continue chasing my dream. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to me at [email redacted]

Ma lo'u faaaloalo lava, faafetai

Ben