Update
Well, we had our comp up in the Isa, which went good. But, the AWF wouldn’t accept the results, because it wasn’t a sanctioned AWF competition.
So, I made the trek down to Ipswich, where I stayed with Ian Moir, to compete and qualify at the QLD Senior Championships.
Luke Gardner offered to coach me through my warm ups (as I was told by Miles, and which I thank both Miles and Luke very much).
I weighed in at 70.6kg. I was the lightest lifter in the Open Mens 77kg division, as well as the youngest. (U18).
My first snatch attempt was on 67kg, which I missed. I was bringing my hips through so that the bar was just bouncing up with no control.
My second lift was also on 67kg, which I got without any dramas.
Third snatch attempt was 72kg, which I got. Although, in the bottom of the lift, I felt myself losing balance and had to ‘crab walk’ forwards a bit. Nevertheless, I still got the lift.
Now, before my clean and jerks, I had to realise that I needed to make a certain total (167kg) to qualify for Nationals. In order to do this, I need at least a 95kg clean and jerk.
Me and Luke agreed that after my first CJ we would jump up to 95kg so that I had 2 attempts to get it.
My first CJ attempt was 87kg. Which I power cleaned easily. And the jerk was very stable.
Second attempt was on 95kg. Which I got, with no dramas.
For my third attempt I wanted to go 98kg, which I thought was a very reasonable weight to attempt. I already had the qualifying total, so I had nothing to lose. Luke, on the other hand, had a look at the other lifters and noticed that if I went 97kg I would be 1kg ahead. What I failed to realise was that this other lifter (Leith Walsh) still had one CJ left.
I agreed with Luke and the bar was loaded to 97kg for my third and last CJ attempt. The clean was good, and I fought hard to stand it. I stood what seemed an eternity under the bar, catching my breath and getting my head in the right train of though before my jerk.
I took a breath, dipped down, pushed through my heels and thrust the bar overhead in a split jerk. I stood , got my feet in the same plane, but the bar seemed to travel forwards, so I had a short walk forwards so that I didn’t lose the lift.
Afterwards, I watched Leith lift and he also secured a 97kg CJ. Leith finished with a 170kg total. 73kg snatch and 97kg clean and jerk. I missed out on silver by 1kg. Even if I did tie with Leith I would still have gotten silver because I was at a lower bodyweight. (Leith had at least 5kg extra bodyweight on me).
I congratulated Leith on the win, and we both had a joke about the 1kg difference.
With the presentation, I had none other than Australia’s only Male Olympian that competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Damon Kelly, present me with my medal. That alone was well worth the trip.
But, prior to the medal presentations, I had an official from ASADA (the Australian Anti Doping people) come and talk to me. I had been selected for a random drug test. Luke was my representative, which I have to thank him again for taking the time to do so.
6 bottles of water and almost 2 hours later, I was ready to piss into the cup for them. I cooperated completely with the Control Officers and must thank them for explain everything I questioned.
Overall, it was the single best week of my life. Now, I have to try and find some money to make the trek all the way down to Melbourne so that I can represent QLD at Nationals.
I have written up several letters addressed to several businesses in the Isa asking for sponsorship. Hopefully, a couple companies will see it as a wise investment and I will be able to live out another one of my weightlifting dreams.
Go Heavy Or Go Home!
To Be The Best You Have To Train To Beat The Best!
