By Sheree Hoddinett
Levi and Mahalia Davidson have shown determination, grit and strength on the national stage. The weightlifting duo have recently returned from Tasmania, where they competed in the Australian Weightlifting Federation Under 15 and Youth Championships, each finishing in second place and Levi just missing out on first place by one kilogram. It’s also a great result for the Bribie Island Weightlifting Club where the pair undertake all their training.
Coach Jade Sharp couldn’t be more proud of the results for a club that’s still growing.
“I am very happy for Mahalia and Levi,” she said. “They are happy with their achievements and that’s what we look for.
“Our club is athlete driven and we are guided by what they want. I am so proud of our little club. In our small club space on Bribie Island, that we can provide our athletes with everything they need to achieve their goals at the state, national and international level, it’s incredible and extremely heart-warming.”
For 16-year-old Levi who has been with the Bribie club now for almost 10 years, achieving six lifts and recording ‘big’ personal bests, along with a second place is what he calls a ‘great outcome’. His success on a national level is an achievement he has worked extremely hard for, with a great team of support behind him.
“It’s fair to say that everything that an athlete does comes from their coaches’ decisions,” Levi said. “I am really fortunate to have three great coaches that can back all their choices and always encourage me. My aunty Jade, who has always been by my side no matter the circumstances, has shaped my whole life and without her I would never have been doing anything like this.
“Paul, the second coach at Bribie Island Weightlifting, is always committed to helping everyone at the club become better at weightlifting and is always great to ask for advice and Mason, head coach at CrossFit Bribie, alongside Glenn and Chelsea. Mason is really knowledgeable in every aspect of fitness and training and is able to accomplish any challenge no matter the circumstances. With all three of these amazing coaches, it’s impossible to not do well and I want to thank them for everything that they do.”
For younger sister Mahalia, at just 15, her results are extremely impressive given she’s only been with the club for a little over a year.
“I decided to get into weightlifting after my nanna introduced me to CrossFit. I wanted to improve my weightlifting skills, but I quickly fell in love with the sport,” Mahalia said.
“Coming in second at nationals was an incredible achievement for me. It was a of a lot of hard work, dedication and support from my coaches and other members of the club. I’m really proud of what I accomplished.”
For these young lifters, next on their ‘to do’ list is to represent Australia.
“The next goal will be to get to the Australian team and try to get on the world stage,” Levi said. “I hope I can achieve this goal by the start of next year and go to a competition like commonwealth or Oceania championships. This would mean a lot because it has been a long-time goal.”
“Qualifying for the Australian team is my next goal,” Mahalia added. “It would mean everything to me; it’s a reflection of all the hard work I’ve put in and a chance to represent my country.”
Although they put in the physical hard yards, both Levi and Mahalia want to acknowledge those behind the scenes who have helped them reach the heights of success.
“I would like to thank Evolve Physio at Ningi for the sponsorship allowing me to get a good amount of time there to make sure I am in top form. Andrew and his team are really friendly, knowledgeable and able to fix any problem they come across,” Levi said. “I would also like to thank my coaches once again and my family, who provide everything and are the reason why I do anything.”
“I want to thank my aunt and coach Jade, who has helped me the whole way,” Mahalia said. “Coach Paul from Bribie Island Weightlifting Club who has always been there through the rough training days. Mason, from CrossFit Bribie, who is really encouraging along with Chelsea and Glenn. Their guidance and support has been amazing and I couldn’t have done it without them. They all remind me of why I lift, especially on the tough days.
“I also want to express my gratitude for my club and everyone who has supported me along the way, especially my family who make it possible to do what I do. I love everything weightlifting has taught me, like resilience and dedication and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Along with seeing success from club representatives, Bribie Island Weightlifting Club is also moving forward in leaps and bounds, with extra youth programs coming in from next year.
“We are working towards local sports partnerships to other sporting clubs in the physical development of their athletes with the use of our facilities and coach experience,” Jade said. “We have also developed a physical literacy class for 7-11-year-olds, which focuses on physical literacy skills, strength and movement development which is in line with the Australian Sports Commission best practise evidence and research. So these classes are fun, we play games, we practise gymnastics skills, Olympic weightlifting skills and strength development on Monday and Wednesday 3:30pm - 4:30pm.”
To find out more, visit the Bribie Island Weightlifting Club via https://bimsc.com.au/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bribieweightlifting
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