Australian weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana expressed to SUNsports her belief that the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship (CWC) will be an opportunity to assess her performance following her participation in the recent Paris Olympics.
“I’ve begun training in the past few weeks to get ready for the upcoming tournament,” Cikamatana shared. She emphasized her desire to engage with fellow athletes from the Commonwealth region and to enjoy the competition experience.
Cikamatana noted that her coach, Paul Coffa, establishes specific targets for her in every competition. “I want to make the most of this opportunity in front of my friends and family who have traveled from various islands to support me,” she added.
The athlete acknowledged the motivation she feels from seeing others pursue their dreams in weightlifting, highlighting the inspiring stories of those aiming to become elite competitors. She mentioned the encouraging presence of younger lifters at the tournament, expressing her support for the youth and junior competitors.
“I encourage them not to give up too early on their dreams because success takes time and requires hard work, commitment, and sacrifice,” she stated.
Cikamatana expressed her pride in representing Australia in her home country, recalling her last competition there in 2016. She confirmed her participation in events scheduled for Friday at 4:30 PM in the 87kg and 81kg plus categories.
She also urged the people of Fiji to come out and support the weightlifters from the Commonwealth. The tournament commenced at the Vodafone Arena yesterday and will wrap up on Saturday.