# Alex Rose (athlete)

Alexander Melei Rose (born 17 November 1991) is a Samoan and American athlete, competing primarily in the discus throw and occasionally in the shot put and the hammer throw. He represented Samoa at the 2016 Olympics, and 2020 Summer Olympics, as well as the Commonwealth Games and Pacific Games.

## Life

Although born in the United States, Rose holds dual citizenship with Samoa, since his father was born there and emigrated to the US as a 19-year-old. He threw for Central Michigan University.
He represented Samoa in the 2013 World Championships in Athletics and the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, failing to qualify for the final on both occasions. He's had great success at the Oceania Athletics Championships, with eight gold medals and a silver in three different throwing events—Discus, Shot Put & Hammer Throw—over four different games from 2021 to 2017.
At the 2022 World Athletics Championships he made the final, coming 8th in the world. Rose competed for Samoa at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where he finished 4th with a best throw of 64.56 m, just 2 cm off third place.
His personal best in the discus was 66.91 metres (Claremont, California, 19 July 2019), until he improved his national record to 67.4 8m at the University of Arizona on 22 May 2021, and then, in 2023, Rose threw 70.39 m at the Oklahoma Throws Series on 16 April 2023, setting a new Oceania Area Record.
At the 2024 Olympics he became the first Pacific islander to make it to an Olympic track and field final.

## Competition record

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing the United States ||||||
| 2010 | World Junior Championships | Moncton, Canada | 22nd (q) | Discus throw (1.75 kg) | 53.46 m |
| Representing Samoa ||||||
| 2012 | Oceania Championships | Cairns, Australia | 1st | Discus throw | 56.29 m |
| 2012 | Oceania Championships | Cairns, Australia | 1st | Hammer throw | 51.10 m |
| 2013 | Oceania Championships | Papeete, French Polynesia | 1st | Shot put | 17.22 m |
| 2013 | Oceania Championships | Papeete, French Polynesia | 1st | Discus throw | 56.05 m |
| 2013 | Oceania Championships | Papeete, French Polynesia | 1st | Hammer throw | 55.49 m |
| 2013 | Universiade | Kazan, Russia | 7th | Discus throw | 58.64 m |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 29th (q) | Discus throw | 56.19 m |
| 2015 | Oceania Championships | Cairns, Australia | 1st | Shot put | 16.89 m |
| 2015 | Oceania Championships | Cairns, Australia | 1st | Discus throw | 60.95 m |
| 2015 | Oceania Championships | Cairns, Australia | 2nd | Hammer throw | 53.29 m |
| 2015 | Pacific Games | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | 2nd | Shot put | 16.58 m |
| 2015 | Pacific Games | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | 1st | Discus throw | 56.40 m |
| 2015 | Pacific Games | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | 2nd | Hammer throw | 58.66 m |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 25th (q) | Discus throw | 59.07 m |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 29th (q) | Discus throw | 57.24 m |
| 2017 | Oceania Championships | Suva, Fiji | 1st | Discus throw | 61.12m CR |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 19th (q) | Discus throw | 61.62 m |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 8th | Discus throw | 59.56 m |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 21st (q) | Discus throw | 61.80 m |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 18th (q) | Discus throw | 61.72 m |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | 8th | Discus throw | 65.57 m |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, England | 4th | Discus throw | 64.56 m |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 12th | Discus throw | 61.69 m |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 12th | Discus throw | 61.89 m |

## Personal bests

Outdoor
* Shot put – 17.22 (Papeete 2013)
* Discus throw – 71.48 (Allendale, Michigan 2024) NR, AR
* Hammer throw – 58.66 (Port Moresby 2015) NR
Indoor
* Shot put – 17.75 (Bowling Green 2011)
* Weight throw – 19.73 (Chicago 2016) NR