Alex Rose finally has a metal disc that he won’t fling as far as he can.
This one is a keeper.
A native of West Branch and resident of Grand Rapids, Rose made history by becoming the first representative of Samoa to earn a medal at the World Athletics Championship. Rose brought home the bronze for his third-place finish in discus at the international track and field games.
The 33-year-old remains on the rise in a sport known for its late bloomers. Last year, Rose achieved his highest finish in his third trip to the Olympic Games when he reached the finals and landed 12th place.
He was making his seventh appearance in the World Championship in Tokyo when he delivered a heave of historic proportions. He launched the discus 66.96 meters — just shy of his personal best – and soared to third place on the grand stage.
The bronze medal was a first for Samoa, the Polynesian island nation where his father, Ross, was born and raised.
Rose was a three-sport standout as a 2009 graduate of Ogemaw Heights. He was a three-time all-stater in track and field, highlighted by his state championship in the shot put as a senior.
He joined the track and field team at Central Michigan University as a walk-on and soon found success in the discus. Rose earned all-American honors with a fifth-place showing in 2011 then came back to win the Mid-American Conference crown in 2012.
Rose has competed under the flag of Samoa since 2012 as a dual citizen, qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2016, 2021 and 2024. At the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo, he served as Samoa’s flag bearer for the opening ceremonies.
But a global medal eluded Rose until Sunday. With a previous best of eighth place at the World Championships, he was already on the radar as a contender. But he took it to new heights with great lengths from the throwing circle.
He joined gold medalist Daniel Stahl of Sweden and silver medalist Mykolas Alekna on the podium.
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