Marie has been on an intensive daily training regime for months. She ran on the Auckland Half Marathon on November 2, finishing No. 174 with a time of 1 hour 50 minutes and 51 seconds. She participated in a 750m swim and a 4k run on November 26, when she clocked her best personal time of 35 minutes 31 seconds.

"I'm really keen to be part of the South Pacific Mini Games and to represent Tonga in triathlon," said Marie.

"Triathlon is an individual sport and the beauty about this sport is that you gain so much discipline in the training, it strengthens your confidence in sport and life and also prepares you mentally for challenges ahead, because you have to overcome these during the training and the races to move onto the three disciplines of triathlon.

"It is my passion, as you can tell, and if I can encourage just one person to get into this great sport I feel I have done my duty."

Marie at the moment is intensely preparing for the Taupo Half Ironman on December 13.