JIMBOOMBA Barbell Club gold medalist Aliyah Brightwell came close to lifting her own body weight at the Queensland Weightlifting under 15 and youth competition at Milton Weightlifting Club on July 27 to 28.
The diminutive teenager, who weighs 42 kg, emerged victorious in her weight class as the under 15 and youth champion after lifting 27 kg in snatch and 32 kg in clean and jerk.
Fellow club member and under 15 silver medalist Josh Reynolds lifted 71 kg in clean and jerk and narrowly missed out on completing the 77 kg lift.
The competition was the fourth contested by Aliyah and Josh's fifth.
Both weightlifters have qualified to represent Queensland at the National Championships at Brisbane in the end of September
Brightwell said she was first introduced to weightlifting while crossfit training at the gym.
"I have always loved it and my weights have definitely improved with every competition I have done. All my training has helped me do heavier weights than I used to," she said.
"My coach Greg Oliver is really awesome and supportive. It was a team effort to get gold at the competition."
Jimboomba Barbell Club coach Greg Oliver said both weightlifters achieved personal best performances under pressure.
"They were both phenomenal on the day of the competition it felt like both of them grew exponentially," he said.
"There was a level of confidence from both of them that they could do these lifts which they had a fear of not being able to do beforehand. They achieved something that was not possible before."
Three judges observed every competitor to ensure each lift was consistent with the sport's rules and regulations.
Oliver said the two teens had come a long way since first joining the club.
"When they both started weightlifting they were both training with broomsticks and learning the right body movements and how to have fun with exercise," he said.
"When they started to show signs of being stronger and capable of reps at a higher weight we moved on to bigger weights.
"They have shown the biggest growth I've seen. Their love and passion for weightlifting is something you don't often see in kids their age."
Brightwell said it was important for people to know they did not have to be big or strong in order to succeed at weightlifting.
"You don't have to be good, you need to start and then work on things to get into the position you want to be in," she said.
The teenage weightlifters train at the Jimboomba Barbell Club three times every week.
To express interest in the club call 3040 6333.
