Tessa Puleaga: knocking down stereotypes

Samoan student Tessa Puleaga, 17, from Ashburton College, is on a mission to prove why she deserved to attend Maadi.

When Tessa told her friends that she wanted to get into rowing, some did not believe she had the stamina to participate in the sport. She wanted to prove to herself and to those who said she couldn’t do it, that she could commit to the strenuous training of rowing and make it to Maadi.

Tessa’s hope this Maadi was “showing everyone the hard work I’ve put into the season, and going hard out and giving it my all in the water”.

The oldest of five children, this is Tessa’s first ever and only Maadi, being Year 13.

Tessa said Polynesian rowers are the minority  because it is an expensive sport.  “A lot of Polynesians do feel like they’re going through financial difficulty.

“Coming from Ashburton anybody can row whether you’re Maori, Samoan or have financial difficulty. They will help you out so you can row whether you have money or not,” she said.

“Joining at 17 and rowing with others that have been rowing for four or five years. I did doubt myself. Everyone at [Ashburton] has cheered me on and I can [strive one day to] be at their level if I just push myself.”

Tessa said she didn’t feel singled out being Samoan in a rowing team dominated by Europeans.  “No way at all, in our group we are all equal. It doesn’t matter how well you [are] at rowing, we all love each other in a way that’s indescribable.”

Her parents’s advice helped her.  “My parents have taught me once you’re committed to something you’re all in. You’re not 50% in, you’re 100% in, and they’ve taught me to be humble.”

On what has inspired Tessa this Maadi she said: “Everybody who rows with me. Because seeing them all try out there, even if they are not the strongest or the fittest. Seeing them push themselves to the limit, they all inspire me.”

Tessa Puleaga from Ashburton College (Please click on the link on the left to view a short clip on Tessa)