Beatrice Faumuina
Beatrice Faumuina is a former World Champion Discus Thrower and two times Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
Beatrice Faumuina is one of New Zealand's most successful track and field athletes. She has represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games on four occasions, in 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing). Beatrice was flag bearer for the New Zealand Olympic team in Athens in 2004.
Beatrice won the World Track and Field Championship discus title in Athens in 1997 and back-to-back Commonwealth games Gold Medals at Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Manchester 2002. This effort lifted her to the top of the nation's sports heroes and she received many awards including the prestigious Halberg Award. She has twice been named the Athletics New Zealand Athlete of the Year (1997 and 1998) and was named the Thrower of the Year in 1999. In 2005 Beatrice was awarded the NZ Order of Merit for her services to New Zealand Athletics.
In 2006 Beatrice was seen gracing New Zealand television screens on Season Two of "Dancing with the Stars" with her dance partner Brian Jones. Over the 8 weeks of competition, "Dancing Queen" Beatrice danced her way into the hearts of NZ, eventually making it to the finals and taking out second place. From 2006 to 2009, Beatrice was a television presenter on Tagata Pasifika.
She retired from athletics in 2010 and is currently CEO of charitable foundation the Best Leadership Academy.