Rooted in the island of Rurutu, Polynesian stone lifting, known locally as 'Amoraʻa Ofaʻi' has been practiced for centuries as a test of strength, status, and identity.

 

By the 1800s, traditional festivals showcasing such feats were suppressed by missionaries, before re-emerging under French rule in 1881 during Bastille Day celebrations.

 

The discipline itself was introduced to the modern Heiva I Tahiti festival in 1982, later formalised when the event was renamed in 1985.

 

Today, athletes lift stones often exceeding 160kg, competing for speed while continuing a tradition once tied to rites of passage, inter-village rivalry, and cultural pride.