Ngalu cheers for Patterson's Olympic dream

Weightlifter Tevita Ngalu made headlines earlier this year after he showed an extreme act of selflessness at the Oceania championships in Samoa. Photo / Natalie Slade

A man who endured excruciating pain for the sake of his friend's Olympic dream was last night cheering him on from his living room in South Auckland.

Weightlifter Tevita Ngalu made headlines earlier this year after he showed an extreme act of selflessness at the Oceania championships in Samoa.

The 39-year-old was part of the team that included friend and Olympic hopeful Richard Patterson.

Each member of the team was required to lift a certain amount in order to gain points for their particular country. Get enough points to be in the top five nations and your top-ranked lifter - in our case, Patterson - would get a nomination to compete in London.

When Ngalu badly injured his left quad muscle however, Patterson's Olympic dreams looked to be over. However, much to the surprise of many, Ngalu bravely stepped up and despite the searing pain in his left quad, lifted a staggering 157 kg for his friend to go on to qualify.

The roar coming from Ngalu, captured in a video at the champs, shows just how painful it was.

Speaking to the Weekend Herald yesterday, Ngalu was excited to see how his friend would do at the Games.

"I can't wait to watch him tonight. I'll just be watching him at home on my TV.

"I'll keep an eye on the clock so I don't miss my friend's lift - I don't mind whether he gets a medal or not, I just want to see him do his best."

Patterson, also of Auckland, was set to compete in the Men's 85 kg Weightlifting event overnight.

The 29-year-old is ranked as New Zealand's best male weightlifter, having won the silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games as well as the Oceania champs held in Apia, Samoa, this year.

Ngalu said he had always had a deep respect for Patterson after he introduced himself to him one day while training at the Gillies Auckland Central Weightlifting Club in Epsom.

"He's a good guy. We always laugh together and we even have the same birthday - just different years," he laughed.

He admitted hating the attention he had received, following what had happened at the Oceania championships.

"People call me a legend but I don't want that. I just wanted to do my best to give him a chance to go to the Olympics.

"He's the best in New Zealand and he deserves to go. I'm just happy I helped him just that little bit."

Ngalu, whose injury has since improved, has been helping to train teenagers involved in weightlifting and coaching at his local club.

He has plans to study law one day, but says the only thing on his mind this weekend is his mate.

"That's all I'm going to be doing this weekend - watching the Olympics and cheering my friend on."