Australian weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana stated that the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship (CWC) will be an important opportunity for her to assess her performance following the recent Paris Olympics.
Cikamatana shared, “I began training in the past few weeks to prepare for the upcoming tournament.” She expressed her enthusiasm for competing against fellow athletes from the Commonwealth region and enjoying the event alongside participants.
Her coach, Paul Coffa, sets specific targets for all tournaments in which she takes part. Cikamatana emphasized her desire to make the most of the experience, particularly in front of friends and family who traveled from various islands to support her.
She noted, “It’s wonderful to see everyone lifting and pursuing their dreams as athletes. The stories of fellow competitors striving to become elite athletes are truly inspiring.”
Cikamatana praised the involvement of the new generation of lifters at the tournament. She expressed her commitment to encouraging youth and junior lifters to persevere. “Don’t give up on your dreams because success doesn’t happen overnight; it requires hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.”
Excited to represent Australia in her home country, Cikamatana recalled her last competition there in 2016, stating, “I’m back after eight years.” She will participate on Friday at 4:30 PM in both the 87kg and 81kg plus categories.
She encouraged the people of Fiji to come out in large numbers to support the weightlifters from the Commonwealth region. The tournament commenced at the Vodafone Arena yesterday and will wrap up on Saturday.