Off to the Birmingham 2022 Commonweath Games !!

It’s Official - they are off to the Commonwealth 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 :)


2021 Commonwealth Championships

Brandon Wakeling, Brenna Kean, Ebony Gorincu (Senior Team) , Josh Sargeant, Nya Hayman, Grace Davies, Tayla Stephens (Youth Team) have been selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Championships

59kg Brenna Kean 72Kg Snatch

2021 Oceania Championships

Ebony Gorincu (Senior Team) , Josh Sargeant, Nya Hayman and Grace Davies (Youth Team) have been selected to represent Australia at the Oceania Championships

16y old 64kg Grace Davies 70kg Snatch

 


2021 World Youth

17y old Josh Sargeant 89kg  105,146 and 16y old Grace Davis 64kg 73,87 have been selected to represent Australia at World Youth Championships

17y old 89kg Josh Sargeant 146kg Clean and Jerk