Micronesian Games: Historic CNMI stint in Majuro

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) has finished top in the unofficial final medal standings for the Micronesia Games, with 70 gold medals as the event wrapped up on Monday.

The CNMI also collected a 23 silver and 29 Bronze medals – bagging a total of 122 medals, the most medals at the Games.

It was also the first time the CNMI topped the medal standings since the 2002 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei.

Nauru was second on the table with 68 golds 38 silver and 9 bronze. They dominated the weightlifting comeptition winning 45 gold medals in the event.

The Marshall Islands had the highest number of medals overall – 134 – but with 47 golds finished third on the table (42 silver and 46 bronze).

“We did not expect our team to win these many medals,” CNMI chef de mission Valerie Hofschneider said.

“However, this goes to show how much hard work everyone on Team Marianas put in, in the past several months to be able to perform at their best and represent our islands well in the 2024 Micronesian.

“We are very proud of our Team Marianas.”

Team Marianas dominated the swimming competition (pool and open water swims) in Kwajalein after hauling in 49 golds, 15 silvers, and 14 bronzes.

The NMI National Tennis Team earned the second most gold medals for Team Marianas with its seven medals and two bronzes.

Athletics contributed five golds, two silvers, and six bronzes, while weightlifting chipped in three golds, five silvers, and four bronzes.

Basketball added one silver (women’s division), while women’s fast-pitch won a bronze, and beach volleyball delivered a pair of bronze medals.

It turned out, the CNMI needed the very last day to beat out Nauru as wrestlers James Attao-Greene Jr. and Ryan Babauta sealed Team Marianas’ reign after winning the NMI delegation’s last two gold medals.

The two wrestlers topped their respective beach wrestling competitions after also prevailing in the freestyle and Greco-Roman events over the weekend.

How others finished

• 4. Palau – 18 Gold, 60 Silver, 85 Bronze
• 5. Pohnpei – 17 Gold, 27 Silver, 4 Bronze
• 6. Guam – 14 Gold, 10 Silver, 8 Bronze
• 7. Kiribati – 3 Gold, 6 Silver, 10 Bronze
• 8. Chuuk – 2 Gold, 12 Silver, 12 Bronze
• 9. Kosrae – 0 Gold, 2 Silver, 14 Bronze
• 10. Yap – 0 Gold, 4 Silver, Bronze 2