Australian weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana stated that the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship (CWC) will be a valuable opportunity to assess her performance following the recent Paris Olympics.
Cikamatana mentioned, “I started training in the past few weeks to prepare for the upcoming tournament.” She expressed her intentions to enjoy the competition and engage with other athletes from the Commonwealth region.
Her coach, Paul Coffa, sets specific targets for all of her competitions. Cikamatana said, “I want to enjoy as much as I can in front of my friends and family who traveled from various islands to watch me compete.”
She highlighted the motivation she feels from witnessing the efforts of fellow athletes pursuing their dreams. Cikamatana noted, “It’s inspiring to hear their stories about striving to become elite athletes.”
She also saw the participation of the new generation of lifters as a positive development. “I support the youth and junior lifters and try to encourage them so they don’t give up too early,” she added.
Cikamatana emphasized the importance of perseverance, stating, “Don’t give up on your dreams because success doesn’t come overnight; it takes hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.”
Expressing her pride in representing Australia in her home country, she recalled her last competition there in 2016 and expressed excitement about returning after eight years.
Cikamatana is scheduled to compete on Friday in the 87kg and 81kg plus categories at 4:30 PM. She urged the people of Fiji to come out in support of weightlifters from the Commonwealth region.
The tournament kicked off at the Vodafone Arena yesterday and will conclude on Saturday.