The Solomon Islands sporting community is mourning the passing of Nina Davies, a passionate advocate, administrator, coach and former athlete whose lifelong dedication helped shape the development of women’s sport, judo, basketball and the Paralympic movement in the country.
Nina Davies was widely respected for her tireless commitment to creating opportunities for women, girls and persons with disabilities in sport.
She served in several key leadership roles, including Vice President for Women in Sports in Solomon Islands, Vice President of the Solomon Islands Judo Association and President of the Solomon Islands National Paralympic Federation (SINPF).
A strong voice for gender equality in sport, Ms Davies consistently highlighted the lack of competitive opportunities for women and girls as a major barrier to international success.
She openly challenged stakeholders to invest more in grassroots and competitive pathways, stressing that medals could only be won when women and girls had meaningful competition and development structures.
Beyond advocacy, Nina Davies was deeply involved in athlete development. As a former judoka herself, she played a key role in introducing judo into the national high-performance system, supporting the induction of selected athletes into structured elite training pathways at SINIS.
She publicly acknowledged SINIS and the national government for providing facilities, programs and services that allowed athletes to train at an elite level, believing these investments would leave a lasting legacy beyond the 2023 Pacific Games.
Her impact extended strongly into para-sport. As President of SINPF, Ms Davies worked closely with international partners such as the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Agitos Foundation, and Oceania Paralympic Committee.
Under her leadership, Solomon Islands built on the country’s Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Games and preparing athletes for future international competitions, including Rio 2016.
She also played a historic role in preparations for the first-ever Solomon Islands Paralympic team to compete at the Pacific Games, overseeing daily training and athlete preparation alongside coaching staff.
Her vision was clear: to identify, support and inspire athletes with disabilities to achieve sporting excellence and represent Solomon Islands with pride.
In addition to judo and para-sport, Nina Davies contributed to basketball development, serving as part of the interim coaching staff for Solomon Islands U19 boys and girls squads, further demonstrating her versatility and commitment across sporting codes.
Above all, Nina Davies will be remembered as a mentor, leader and change maker, someone who believed deeply in the power of sport to transform lives, empower women, and uplift marginalized communities. Her legacy lives on in the athletes she mentored, the systems she helped build, and the voices she amplified.
Said Sika Manuopangai, NSC Chair: “Solomon Islands has lost a true pioneer, but her contributions will continue to shape the future of sport in the nation for generations to come. She will be sorely missed for her drive and ability to challenge us all to do better.”
Rest in peace, Nina Davies. Your legacy endures.
-NSC MEDIA
