These young weightlifters are pumped about the prospects of testing their might on the national stage.
Alyssa, 11, Joel, 13 and Alishia, 16 are training several times a week with an eye firmly on competing at the Australian Weightlifting Federation Under-15 and Under-17 Youth Championships in July.
Joel has already qualified after lifting 46 kilograms in the clean-and-jerk and 30 kilograms in the snatch at last month’s Geelong Youth Championships.
He shone again at the state championships in Melbourne on Saturday, winning the best under 15 male lifter.
Alyssa sealed her place in the nationals on Saturday, lifting 24 kilograms in the snatch event and 37 kilograms in the clean and kerk – four kilograms above her personal best.
Alishia won best female youth lifter with a 48 kilogram snatch and 60 kilogram clean and jerk but just missed out on a qualifying score for nationals.
She will have a final shot at the Geelong competition on May 20.
Coach Toni Lane said the trio had been training with Invictus Fitness in Bacchus Marsh for the past three years.
“I think they’re going to do great,” Lane said. “I hope that they all feel really proud of themselves. To be able to say that they competed at national level would be amazing.”
