Fiji born weightlifter, Eileen Cikamatana’s performances in the Interstate Tournament between ACT and NSW where she smashed all Australian Junior and Senior records, and even equaled the junior world record, has received praises from Australian Weightlifting Federation President, Sam Coffa.
Competing in the 81kg category in the Interstate Tournament, Cikamatana succeeded with six lifts out of six. She snatched 118kg and clean and jerked 150kg for a total of 268kg.
Coffa says he has been involved in weightlifting for almost 65 years and has never witnessed a performance like he did on Saturday.
Coffa says the world junior standard in the 81kg category, in the snatch, is 118kg, Cikamatana equaled the world record on her third attempt.
However it must be noted that world records can only be broken at International Weightlifting Federation international events, therefore they cannot be claimed.
Her three snatches were 107kg, 112kg, and 118kg. In the clean & jerk, the world junior standard is 145kg. She started on 141kg, and then surpassed that record in her second clean & jerk with 146kg and then went on in her third lift and clean & jerked 150kg.
He says the total standard record is 259kg. Eileen equalled the record on her first attempt. She then went on in her second attempt totaling 265kg. Her successful third attempt in the clean & jerk of 150kg pushed the total up to 268kg.
She won a gold medal in last year’s Commonwealth Games for Fiji.
Cikamatana is now living in Sydney and has received permanent residency.
Coffa says once Cikamatana receives her citizenship and goes through all proper procedures with the IWF, then she will be representing Australia on the international platform.
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