Kawerau deputy mayor and powerlifting champion Sela Kingi has been celebrated by her community after returning from Canada with three medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships.

Whānau, friends, colleagues and community members gathered at Kawerau Town Hall last Friday to honour Kingi, who won gold in the bench press with a 90-kilogram lift, bronze in the squat with a personal best of 135kg, and bronze in the overall master’s category last month.

The celebration was organised by UNIQE GYMZ, with support from Kawerau District Council. Students from Kawerau schools attended the event, with kapa haka performances adding to the occasion.

As part of the celebration, Kingi was presented with a korowai, a Tongan ceremonial quilt and kahoa (leis) in recognition of her achievements.

Kingi said the achievement was not hers alone, acknowledging the people who had supported her journey, including her whānau, coaches, colleagues and wider community.

She told the gathering that one of her childhood dreams was to compete at the Commonwealth level, recalling watching sporting events on a black-and-white television as a young girl growing up in Ōtara, South Auckland.

“Back then, you really didn’t want to ask for anything,” she said, reflecting on her parents’ efforts to raise eight children. “The only thing that we had that was free was our dreams.”

Kingi said she never imagined she would one day compete at the Commonwealth Championships but encouraged others not to give up on their aspirations, regardless of their age or circumstances.

“The hardest obstacle you have is you,” she told the audience, encouraging people to believe in themselves and remain open to new opportunities.

Her journey to the podium was not without challenges. Kingi revealed she became seriously unwell with acute pain the day before the competition but recovered sufficiently to compete.

She also spoke about changing her deadlift technique just two weeks before the championships after experiencing difficulties with her previous approach. Despite ongoing issues with her lower back, she went on to achieve a personal best in the squat.

Kingi credits her coach, Mike Jones of Ruthless Barbell, for helping her work towards her potential while ensuring she trained safely.

Her aunty, Paia Kingi, who is also a powerlifter, said Kingi’s influence extended well beyond the competition platform.

“True strength isn’t just measured by the plates loaded on the barbell. It’s measured by character, resilience and the grace with which you wear success,” she said.

She highlighted Kingi’s role in inspiring younger people to try powerlifting, noting that five rangatahi had competed for the first time the previous year.

Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui praised Kingi’s leadership and service to the community, saying her achievements on the platform reflected the same perseverance she demonstrated in her work and community involvement.

Tunui also acknowledged the support of Kingi’s whānau, coaches and the organisations that helped prepare her for the championships and make the trip to Canada possible.

Kingi thanked those who had supported her training, helped with fundraising and kept things running at home while she was away.

The celebration recognised not only Kingi’s medals, but also the people and community behind her success.