Cook Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics

The Cook Islands are a collection of fifteen islands lying in the South Pacific Ocean that are governed under a single parliamentary entity. Some 10,000 people live in the dependency. The country is in a free association with New Zealand, who handles the nation's external affairs. The Cook Islands became self-governing in 1965.[1] 23 years later, the Cook Islands sent their first delegation to the Olympics at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Between 1988 and 2008, the Cook Islands sent delegations to all six Summer Olympic games.[2] The size of the Cook Islander delegation was largest in 1988, when it reached seven athletes. The size of the nation's delegation has not risen past four since then as of the Beijing Olympics.[2]

At Beijing, four athletes competed for the Cook Islands. Of those competitors, three were men (Heather, Okotai, Pera) and one was a woman (Tapoki). They competed across three sports (track and field, swimming and weightlifting) and four distinct events (men's 100 meters and women's discus throw in track and field, men's 100 meters breaststroke in swimming, and men's heavyweight in weightlifting).[3] As of the 2008 Olympics, there had not been a Cook Islander who has won a medal at the Olympics. Sam Pera, Jr., a weightlifter, was the flagbearer for the Cook Islands at the ceremonies.[2]

Petero Okotai participated on the Cook Islands' behalf in the men's 100 meters breaststroke. He was the only Cook Islander participating in the event, or in any swimming event in general in Beijing. Okotai was 27 years old at the time of his participation at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and had not previously participated in any Olympic games.[8] During the preliminary rounds, which took place on 9 August, the Cook Islander participated in the first heat, which included three people. Of those three, Okotai ranked third after finishing the event in 1:20.20. Oman's Mohammed Al-Habsi ranked ahead of Okotai (1:12.28), while Qatar's Osama Mohammed Ye Alarag took first in the heat (1:10.83). Of the 63 athletes who finished the qualification heats, Okotai ranked last. He did not advance to later rounds.[9]

Sam Pera, Jr. was the only Cook Islander participating in weightlifting during the Beijing Olympics. Born on the island of Rarotonga, the most populous Cook Island, Pera is the son of Sam Nunuke Pera, who competed for the Cook Islands in the same event in 1992 (Barcelona), 1996 (Atlanta) and 2004 (Athens).[10] Sam Pera, Jr. participated in men's _105kg (heavyweight) at age 19, which marked the first time he competed in any Olympic games.[11] The event occurred on 19 August, and included 14 competitors in all.[12] The snatch phase of the event occurred first, and Pera was given three tries. On the first, he successfully lifted 148 kilograms; on the second, he unsuccessfully attempted to lift 155 kilograms; and on the third and final, he lifted the 155 kilograms with success. The clean and jerk phrase followed, and Pera was again given three attempts. He successfully lifted 188 kilograms on his first and second tries, and successfully lifted 195 kilograms on his third attempt. Because his highest score during the snatch round was 155 kilograms and his highest during clean and jerk was 195 kilograms, the total of the two equaled his total score of 350 points.[11] Overall, Pera ranked twelfth of the thirteen finishing athletes. Tonga's Maamaloa Lolohea ranked behind him (313 points), while Finland's Antti Everi ranked ahead (366 points). The year's gold medalist, Matthias Steiner, earned 461 points.[12]