By Nazario Rodriquez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The Senate last week adopted a resolution expressing its condolences to the family and relatives of the late Valeria Rapatamor Pedro.
Valerie, as she is well known among friends, has been one of Palau’s brightest athletes, coaches and role models.
Valerie, who was born on Nov. 16, 1973, passed away on March 25, 2007.
Senate Resolution No. 7-113, which was introduced by Sen. Mlib Tmetuchl, traced Valerie’s achievements particularly in sports as a weightlifter.
Valerie attended Meyuns Elem. School, Marianas High School in Saipan and has served a practical nurse at the Belau National Hospital for two years.
She won three silver medals in the 75kg weight class at the 1998 Micronesian Games.
Then, she won a silver and two bronze medals and in the 69kg class in the 1999 South Pacific Games in Guam and a silver and bronze at the same year at the Oceania/South Pacific Championships in Nauru in the same category.
Due to her international experience, she won three gold medals representing the State of Sonsorol at the third Belau Games in 2000 that also led to her first Olympic stint at the Sydney 2000 Summer Games and ranked a remarkable seventh place in her class.
Minutes after winning a gold medal in the 72kg and silver in the 80kg clean and jerk at the Seventh South Pacific Mini Games that Palau hosted in 2005, Valerie announced her retirement from active competition.
For the last time, however, she won her last gold medal representing Sonsorol at the 2006 Belau Games.