Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Samuel Karokikki
Samuel Karokikki (February 12, 1943, Nauru - November 17, 2004, Australia) was an athlete from Nauru. He is a descendant of the Eamwit tribe.
At the age of 13 he was discovered by a Mexican coach who took him in his school. Because of his height he was successful over 400 and 800 meters, but had also success in the long jump.
In 1968 he qualified for the Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City. He was the 53rd over 400 meters, but was disqualified over 800 meters because of several false starts. In the long jump he jumped a new Nauruan record (6.41 meters) and was the 34th.
One year later he married a soul singer from New Orleans. But she was arrested for smuggling drugs soon when she wanted to travel to Brazil and she committed suicide in the prison. Karokikki then went on a large cow farm in Uruguay where he worked until 1993.
Karokikki lived in Australia on a farm, which is owned by one of his nephews. In November 2004 Karokikki was gravely injured in a car accident and died few days later in a hospital.
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