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2023 Oceania U23,U20 and U17 Championships in Samoa
I was very fortunate to have 5 lifters on the Team
Briony Challis who in her first International secured Gold in the U23 64Kg Class
Macy Brockhurst also an International debutant got Gold in the U23 81Kg Class
Nya Hayman Silver in the U20 64Kg Class
Ayrton Risby Bronze in the U17 73Kg Class
Layla Bloom 4th in the U20 71Kg Class
I love seeiing people make their first international - its a real honour to wear the green and gold for Australia
2022 Commonwealth Games
World Youth Championships in Mexico
Awesome job Tayla Stephens, Nya Hayman and Layla Bloom at World Youth Championships in Mexico
especially considering this is their first high level face to face comp - they have not even done a face to face Nationals due to COVID !
They did themselves and Australia Proud
Tayla 59 - 66,85 6/6 equal PB total
Layla 64 - 67,94 6/6 equal PB total PB Clean and Jerk
Nya 64- 74,92 6/6 2nd biggest total
Off to the Birmingham 2022 Commonweath Games !!
Congratulations to Ebony Gorincu, Brandon Wakeling and Brenna Kean and the rest of the 11 member B2022 Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Team - what a well deserved honour and privilege - and what amazing experiences await you all
In the 76kg class is Ebony who if you Google the word grit I am sure brings up her name - as anyone at Cougars Club knows there are very few that work as hard as her - and after missing out on Gold Coast this selection is so so sweet
In the 73kg class is Brandon who is will be returning to his second Games - he has worked very hard on his technique since the last Games and hopefully can get a good run of niggle free training in the next 100 days
In the 59kg class is Brenna - who must be pinching herself to believe this is real - as only about year ago was competing at her first lifting comp
The thing that makes me the most happy and emotional is thinking of all the wonderful life experiences these guys will have being part of the Team - it’s such a unique honour and privilege representing your country and being part of a major multi sport event like the Commonwealth Games.
Uzbekistan 2021 World Championships
It was an honour to represent Australia as a coach at this years World Championships and work with Lyn Jones and Paul Coffa and the Australian athletes.
There is nothing that quite has the feeling of a World Championships and I have really enjoyed myself every time I have gone to one - its also a time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.
Ebony had a great Clean and Jerk event and got a 3kg Pb of 118kg at 71kg and I was very proud of her holding it together after a difficult snatch session .
Brandon Wakeling 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The biggest stage - 115,120,125 158,162,166 - Second biggest total, first 6/6 for 5 years - AWESOME !!!
Video of all lifts at Tokyo 2020
As the closing Ceremony of the Olympics was finishing I was reflecting on Tokyo 2020 and what a journey it had been for Brandon
I was so so happy for him on many fronts when he walked off the platform after his last lift ….
He managed to qualify
The Olympics actually went ahead
He was not injured or got Covid19 there so he could lift on the Olympic platform
He got a great result - second biggest total and first 6/6 for 5 years
He had an awesome time
The journey started nearly 3 years ago at the World Championships in Turkmenistan in 2018
In what was a grueling qualifying process and its great to see it all worked out and he is now an Olympian :)