The Paris Olympics are attracting Australian weightlifting star Eileen Cikamatana, who made history at the Commonwealth Games with a record performance.
Key points:
- Cikamatana won the 90kg category while representing Fiji on the Gold Coast
- His second lift of 137kg in Birmingham won gold and he capped his victory with a third lift of 145kg.
- Cikamatana is recovering from a 26cm tear in his thigh
Cikamatana won Australia’s first weightlifting gold at the Birmingham Games with lifts in the 87kg category that put her on a different level in the competition.
More importantly, she is now the first woman to win Commonwealth Games gold for two countries, having won the 90kg category on the Gold Coast for Fiji.
“I don’t know how to describe it… I can’t put it into words,” Cikamatana said of her success.
“I think it’s floating around somewhere. I’ll have to get it and then I’ll let you know.”
Cikamatana won Australia’s first weightlifting gold at the Birmingham Games. (Getty Images: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)
Shortly after the Gold Coast Games, Cikamatana was switched to Australia after a dispute with Fiji’s weightlifting governing body over where he should train.
He was unable to compete at the Tokyo Olympics because he was not yet eligible, but Cikamatana showed his great talent in Birmingham.
Cikamatana set the Games record in the category with his snatch lift of 110 kg.
He then took the overall lead with his first attempt at 129kg.
Cikamatana’s second lift of 137 kg won the gold medal, and also set the overall records of the Games.
She capped off her outstanding win with a third lift of 145kg, giving the Australian a total of 255kg.
Eileen Cikamatana lifted a total of 255kg. (Getty Images: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)
Canada’s Kristel Ngarlem won silver with 236kg and Nigeria’s Mary Osojo won bronze with her 225kg.
The achievements have come as Cikamatana recovers from a 26cm tear in his thigh last year, an injury so painful he cannot squat.
“I could say they’re personal memories after the injury,” he said of the Games’ lifts.
“I lifted 156 jerks and 121 snatches, yes… here comes Paris, 2024. Here we go.”
Cikamatana was in tears at the medal ceremony and paid tribute to coach Paul Coffa and his wife Lilly.
“I was excited because I [am] So thankful to get to represent the green and gold and be on the podium, listening to the anthem,” he said.
“To represent the green and gold is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a dream come true.
“They (the Coffas) made all these impossible dreams come true.”
Cikamatana was asked if his achievements were worth all the pain of parting ways with Fiji.
“A million times, [the switch] it’s worth it,” he said.
“It’s something I never dreamed of achieving.”
On Monday, fellow Australians Kyle Bruce and Sarah Cochrane won silver in weightlifting.
And earlier on Tuesday, compatriot Ebony Gorincu finished sixth in the 76kg category and Ridge Barredo overcame a hip injury to finish fifth in the men’s 96kg category.
AAP