Chapter Thirty-Four: Commonwealth Games Trials in Melbourne
The Commonwealth Games Trials were held on 17th December 2005 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, at the same venue where the Weightlifting would be held during the Commonwealth Games next March (a test event for the venue). Three of us had qualified at 58kg and were competing for selection. I was up against Maria Tsoukalis from NT and Jacquie White from Victoria. Maria was only 18 years old and hadn’t been on the weightlifting scene for long. Jacquie had been lifting for a few years but was also young, 23 years old, and she had dropped down from 63kg for the Trials. I was now 35 years old and was extremely determined not to be beaten. I was hoping my age wouldn’t go against me and that my experience would get me through.
My head was really switched on at this competition. I felt confident and positive, pushing any small doubts I had to the back of my mind. I warmed up really well and managed to succeed with all three Snatches, starting on 75kg, then 78kg and finishing with 80kg. You can watch the 80kg snatch below (video credit to John Way).
Though, it was a very close competition against Maria and Jacquie. Maria had started on 75kg, then got 77kg and finished on 79kg. Jacquie started on 77kg, missed it on her 1st attempt, was successful with 77kg on her 2nd attempt, then finished on 79kg with her 3rd attempt.
After the Snatches I was ‘pumped’. I felt so happy to have finally gotten back up to an 80kg snatch, but was ‘fired up’ at having the other two girls breathing down my neck. I sat in the back room during the 10 minute break before the Clean & Jerk, knowing I had gotten off to a good start, but still had some work to do, as I only had a 1kg lead on the other two girls.
In the Clean & Jerks I knew I had to really push myself, as my leg strength had still been a little down. Even though I knew both girls had a strong Clean & Jerk, I felt confident. I knew on a good day I should still have the edge. And I felt like I was having a good day.
I warmed up well. My coaches, Steve T and Luke were playing it safe, to make sure I stayed just ahead of my competitors. As usual I left the tactics to the coaches and followed every instruction they gave me.
Jacquie started on 89kg and was successful. Next the bar was raised to 90kg with both Maria and I to start on this weight. Maria missed it and I was successful. Maria had to take 90kg again for her 2nd attempt while Jacquie and I waited. Maria got the 90kg on her 2nd attempt and next Jacquie elected 92kg for her 2nd attempt, which she lifted successfully. I then took 93kg for my 2nd attempt – with success. Maria was the next lifter taking 93kg for her 3rd attempt – she missed it. I knew it was left between Jacquie and me. Jacquie elected 94kg for her 3rd attempt and was successful. This meant Jacquie and I were both sitting on the same total, except Jacquie had a lighter bodyweight and I had one attempt left. My coaches called for 94kg for my 3rd attempt. It was only 1 kg more but was necessary in order to win the competition. I felt I could have taken a heavier weight but the coaches’ tactics were sensible so I went out and lifted the 94kg weight – successfully. This gave me a 174kg Total, over Jacquie’s 173kg Total and Maria’s 169kg.
It may have been a narrow win but it was a win. Overall I was happy with my “PB PB” (Post Baby Personal Best) Total of 174kg, especially having succeeded with the 80kg Snatch. Plus this was the first competition that I had ever been successful with 6 out of 6 lifts.
Normally, straight after a Selection Trials competition, the selectors would meet to work out the team. Then, as the athletes would have all waited around, they would announce the team soon after.
Unfortunately Australian weightlifting had a massive problem around this time – a handful of alleged positives, affecting 4 or 5 of our Commonwealth Games hopefuls. The positives were being appealed with investigations underway. Due to this situation, the AWF could only announce part of the team. Fortunately, I wasn’t caught up in the scandal and so I was on the part of the team that was announced.
Coming up next – Chapter 35: The drugs subject rears it ugly head again