In her first year lifting for Jimboomba Barbell Club, Beaudesert resident Kristen Wadwell has won a silver medal at the Australian Junior and Senior Wightlifting Championships.
Wadwell blew away the 75+kg division with all personal best lifts on September 11.
Her goal was to lift an overall 198kg which she beat and made a convincing 199kg, with a 86kg snatch and a 113kg clean and jerk.
The clean and jerk lift was five kg more than she had ever completed in competition.
Unlike in the state round earlier this year, Wadwell had to lift on the theatre stage of the Sleeman Sports Complex, a much more intimidating set up with major lighting and seating arrangements.
Luckily enough, the day before the lift, Wadwell joined with the Queensland team for their official photos shoot on the exact stage of the lift.
Wadwell said this allowed her a chance to get used to the environment before stepping out during the nationals.
Coach Greg Oliver was selected for the Queensland coaching staff and was able to get Wadwell in the game after a minor setback in the snatch lift.
“We’d only talked about making 90 to 92kg in the snatch, so when I didn’t make it I thought I’d ruined my chances,” Wadwell said.
“It was an emotionally intense day and run so professionally.
“It was a huge learning experience and Greg and I were both learning new things, some which didn’t work for me.
“We finally found a groove and jumping into the deep end paid off.”
Oliver said making the coaching staff and seeing Wadwell achieve the 199kg was a “massive career highlight.”
“We communicated really well together and she needed that support in her first national championships,” he said.
“She nearly hugged me to death when she made the 113kg clean and jerk.”
The clean and jerk lift weight came as a surprise to Wadwell as she only found out about minutes before taking the floor.
“I did have a massive panic when the coaching staff told me that was what I was going to lift,” she said.
“But I was just so excited once I’d made it because that meant I’d made my goal, everything else (the silver medal) was just a bonus.”
Wadwell will now taper her training to complete her university exams, but will be back better than ever in 2017 to challenge for the Australian title.