Two Bacchus Marsh women are making their mark on the international weightlifting scene.
Toni Lane and Louise Webb both came away with gold medals from the World Masters Games held in New Zealand last month.
Lane won gold in the women’s 40-44 age group in the 63 kilogram division, while Webb took gold in the women’s 55-59 age group in the 75-90 kilogram division.
Both women’s love of lifting weights came after they started doing CrossFit, a high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise, including weights.
Lane opened a gym in Bacchus Marsh in 2013, which is when she took up CrossFit.
“I was really enjoying it, but I quickly realised that I needed to get better at weightlifting to get better at CrossFit.
“I got a specialist [weightlifting] coach and I loved it.”
Lane was travelling to Geelong for specialised weightlifting training. It was her coach who suggested she start competing.
Lane said most people were surprised to hear that she competed in the sport.
“They think larger people do weightlifting,” she said. “They don’t get how someone as small as me can lift heavy weights.”
Lane qualified for the World Masters Games and received the shock of her life when she was selected in the Australian team for the games.
She was one of six women and six men selected to represent the Australian Weightlifting Federation.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” the mum of four said. “I was at weightlifting when I found out and I started crying.”
The surprises kept coming – Lane didn’t think she was a chance of winning and admits to surprising herself with her results.
The Australian women’s team finished second overall.
Webb said she joined Lane’s gym to get a bit a strength and lose some weight. Weightlifting was the last thing on her mind.
“I had some success with doing CrossFit,” she said. “I decided I really enjoyed the strength side of things, including weightlifting.
“I got a specialist coach and heard about the big masters competition.”
Leading up to the competition she
Heading into the games, Webb was focused on her own performance.
“I looked at the results and thought I would have been competitive.
“I never thought I was a chance.”
Webb, who competed in the games as an individual, said it was only in the dying stages of the competition that she realised she was in with a shot of taking out the gold.
Lane and Webb both have their sights set on October’s World Cup event in Brisbane.
Webb is already thinking about defending her masters title in Barcelona next year.
“I want to get better and show that older people can continue to improve,” she said.
