By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
LAST year, at the age of 15, Jaden Andrew cemented his place in NMI sports history as the first — and youngest — youth weightlifter to represent the islands at the Pacific Mini Games, held from June 29 to July 9 in Koror, Palau, bridging the gap between a storied family legacy and a bright future for local athletics.
Despite carrying the weight of being the youngest member on a veteran squad, Andrew views his unique position as a source of inspiration rather than intimidation.
“It feels rewarding because I’ve been training for a while,” Andrew said in an interview with Variety about his record-setting status. “To be the first or the youngest to go to the Mini Games — I feel more motivated just because more people my age can do it.”
During the 2025 Mini Games in Palau, Andrew competed in the 79kg male division, where he finished eighth, recording a clean and jerk of 120kg, a snatch of 92kg, and a total of 212kg.
His journey into weightlifting was almost inevitable. A second-generation lifter, Andrew follows in the footsteps of his uncle, John Mario, a former NMI coach, and his late aunt, Palau’s first female weightlifter.
Now competing in the 85kg weight class at age 16, Andrew is focused on the grueling physical demands of the clean and jerk — a movement he finds particularly challenging due to the leg strength required to stand the weight up. Despite the technical hurdles, his training remains rigorous, spanning six days a week, with Sundays reserved for rest.
That discipline has been forged under the watchful eyes of Coach Angel San Nicolas, along with Coach Ma and the rest of the NMI weightlifters, whom Andrew credits for his rapid ascent.
“It feels like a privilege,” Andrew said of training with top-tier coaches. When asked if he would be the lifter he is today without their support, his answer was simple: “No.”
With the Mini Games behind him, Andrew is already mapping out a path toward regional dominance, setting his sights on competing for the top within the next two years.
As Andrew continues to build strength in his new weight class, he remains a symbol of the next generation of NMI lifters — breaking stigma and proving that in weightlifting, age is just a number, but technique is everything.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
