Soccer star Tiana Penitani is one of the toughest women in Australian sport and she has now revealed how the tragic death of her founder helped give her that strength.
The tough Cronulla Sharks center has represented his state and country in rugby league, as well as an emotional one-off appearance for Tonga at international level.
Before that, she was one of Australia’s youngest representatives at a Rugby World Cup at just 17 years old.
Her career, experience and deep knowledge of the game earned her a place on the voting panel for both World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year and World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2019.
He is also a rising media star, presenting ABC TV’s That Pacific Sports Show alongside former Super Rugby star Sam Wykes.
At first glance, it appears to have been easy for the 28-year-old, who has mastered two codes of football and is laying the platform for a big future once she retires.
An emotional Tiana Penitani has spoken about the impact that her father’s death has had on her sporting career and her life.
Tiana appears as a baby in the arms of her father Solomon, who was tragically murdered when she was 12 years old.
Penitani has forged her own path in life despite the terrible tragedy of her father’s murder when she was just 12 years old.
Football is in the family blood: his father Solomon plays rugby for Tonga and the family spends weekends watching him play local football for Maroubra in eastern Sydney.
Solomon loved his family and was finishing a sleeve tattoo that ultimately accidentally caused his downfall.
The 36-year-old was shot dead at Churchill’s Sports Bar in Kingsford at 4am as he celebrated finishing his tattoo.
It was a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Penitani currently plays for Cronulla in the NRLW competition after being poached from rugby.
The center also represents New South Wales and Australia, and has also played one cap for Tonga, as has her father.
Now, talking about the Keegan and Company’s Mental Health and Sport Podcasthas revealed the lessons he learned from that tragic moment and how it has marked his life.
“Not many people can say that one of their parents was murdered,” he said.
‘And for me, now that I’m 28, looking back taught me the value of life.
‘And I know everything I’ve been through…’ she said before tears overtook her.
“I think everything I’ve been through in life I will always remember that experience I had when I was 12 years old.
“Some days I’m good, other days I’m not so good.”
Penitani said that while there were good and bad days, the pain of losing his father meant he now has the strength to face any of life’s challenges.
The soccer star is also a rising personality in the media world and hosts his own ABC podcast.
Whenever things get tough, she knows she faced the darkest days any child could imagine and came out on top.
“Reflecting on all the tough times, the injuries, the setbacks and the shitty days I’ve had, I think from that day on I will always go back to the worst moment of my life, which was losing my life.” dad under those circumstances,” he continued.
“I have always been one of those who say that I have been through worse things. And it has been worse for me.
“I got out of that and we got out of that difficult time.”
Fans of the podcast have praised Penitani for showing the strength to speak out about such an unspeakable tragedy.
“I’m so shocked and shocked that you’ve come this far in your career and never used your tragic experience as an excuse, you deserve all the success,” one posted.
Another added: ‘He behaves very well. Big shout out to you Tiana, a great role model for young girls.
“What a sad story, but Tiana as a mother (with a daughter named Tiana too!) I know your father would be incredibly proud of you, your siblings and your mother,” another responded.
