Ele Opeloge has thanked supporters in Samoa and abroad for contributing to a fundraising campaign honouring her Olympic success.
The weightlifter won Samoa's first Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, after being upgraded to silver last year when two competitors were disqualified for drugs.
The Samoa Government refused to offer Opeloge a financial reward for her historic achievement, saying they would only do so for gold medal winners.
Ele Opeloge of Samoa competes in the women's +75 kg weightlifting event during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. Photo: AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE
But the Samoa Observer newspaper has raised thousands of Tala for the 31-year-old after launching their own fundraising campaign.
"I'm very happy to come back and celebrate a medal next week," said Opeloge.
"And I see our country there's lots of people supporting and our government and all people.
"It's not only Samoa - the people overseas I'd like to say thank you to the lots of people supporting me".
"I give thanks to the Observer and all companies and the school for this fund for me," she said.
"I'm very happy for this money to help me...and help to my family."
Ele Opeloge was diplomatic when asked if she thought the government should reward all Olympic medalists and not only gold medal winners from the Commonwealth and Olympic events, saying, "I don't know" with a slight giggle of acknowledgement.
Samoan weightlifter Ele Opeloge's silver medal(Beijing 2008), her country's first ever Olympic Medal. Photo: Supplied/ Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork
She will formally receive her silver medal at an official government reception next week.
"That's my first time in my life to wear the silver medal and I thank the Olympics [for] this chance to me, I got the medals from the Olympics," she said.
"I will look forward because it's so hard for me but I didn't know we had this medal in the Olympics.
"But I look to my country, lots of people happy and supportive to me and [I'm] so happy to win a silver medal. It's the first time in Samoa and weightlifting."
Ele Opeloge is now based in New Zealand but has been back in Samoa for the past week ahead of the medal ceremony.
She hoped her achievement can inspire future Samoan athletes to new Olympic success.
"I think it's a good chance to other brothers and sisters [in] different sports...I'm now retired from competing and all Samoan support, all the guys in sports look to me, this opportunity if you want to grow up [to win] other medals from the Olympics."
