Australian weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana expressed her excitement about participating in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship (CWC), viewing it as an opportunity to assess her performance following the recent Paris Olympics.
“I started my training in the past few weeks to prepare for the upcoming tournament,” Cikamatana stated. She emphasized her intention to enjoy the competition, stating, “I’m here to move my body around and compete with other athletes from the Commonwealth region.”
Her coach, Paul Coffa, sets specific targets for her in each tournament, and Cikamatana aims to relish the experience, especially in front of friends and family who have traveled from various islands to support her. “It’s inspiring to see everyone lifting and pursuing their dreams as athletes,” she added, noting the motivation drawn from fellow competitors’ stories.
Cikamatana also highlighted the importance of encouraging younger athletes, expressing her support for youth and junior lifters. “I try to encourage them not to give up too young or too early,” she advised. “Success doesn’t come overnight; it requires hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.”
She feels privileged to represent Australia in her home country, mentioning, “I last competed here in 2016, and now I’m back after eight years.” Cikamatana will compete in the 87kg and 81kg plus categories on Friday at 4:30 PM. She has called on the people of Fiji to come out and support weightlifters from the Commonwealth region.
The tournament began at the Vodafone Arena yesterday and is set to conclude on Saturday.