Cook Islands at the 1992 Summer Olympics

The Cook Islands joined the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, from July 25 to August 9, 1992. This was their second time in the Olympic Games, after the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Two athletes represented the Cook Islands. Mark Sherwin ran in the men's 100 meters but did not go past the first round. The other athlete, Sam Nunuke Pera, was a weightlifter who competed in the men's 100 kilograms category but did not finish his lifts.

Even though no one won a medal, their participation showed the Cook Islands' support for the Olympic spirit and for being part of this big international event.

Background

The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee joined the International Olympic Committee on January 1, 1986. The Cook Islands first joined the 1988 Summer Olympics and have sent athletes to every Summer Olympic Games since then. The 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, were their second time joining the Summer Olympics. They have never joined a Winter Olympic Games.

The 1992 Summer Olympics took place from July 25 to August 9. Over 9,000 athletes from 169 countries joined in. The Cook Islands sent two athletes: a track and field runner named Mark Sherwin and a weightlifter named Sam Nunuke Pera. Sam Nunuke Pera carried the flag for the Cook Islands during the opening ceremony.

Competitors

The Cook Islands sent two athletes to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. One athlete competed in track and field, and the other in weightlifting.

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics

Mark Sherwin was a 22-year-old athlete from the Cook Islands. He ran in the men's 100 meters race at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, on July 31. He finished eighth in his heat with a time of 11.53 seconds and did not move on to the next round. The winner was Linford Christie from Great Britain, with Frankie Fredericks from Namibia taking silver and Dennis Mitchell from the United States winning bronze.

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only

Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 1992 Summer Olympics

Sam Nunuke Pera was 23 years old when he competed in the Barcelona Olympics. He took part in the 100 kg and under weight class on August 2. Pera weighed 92.6 kg. He tried to lift 105 kilograms but was not successful. Because of this, he could not continue in the next part of the event. The gold medal was won by Viktor Tregubov from the Unified Team, silver by Tymur Taimazov, also from the Unified Team, and bronze by Waldemar Malak from Poland.

Pera later competed again for the Cook Islands in the 1996 and 2004 Summer Olympics.