Alex Rose

Alexander Melei Rose (born 17 November 1991) is a Samoan and American athlete, competing in the discus throw. He won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships, becoming the first Samoan to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships. He represented Samoa at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics.

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. 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.

Rose won the bronze medal with a throw of 66.96m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. It was Samoa's first ever medal at a World Championship event.

Competition record

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