Deborah Lovely of Australia competes in the women's +75kg group A weightlifting event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. © Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

RAISING THE BAR FOR A LONDON HOMECOMING

Australia was first represented in Olympic weightlifting by two men at the 1948 London Games. As the Games return to London in 2012, both men and women will be eligible to compete, but Australia has only fielded small weightlifting teams in recent Olympiads. In 2008 and 2004 Australia was represented by just two athletes - Damon Kelly and Deborah Acason (nee Lovely) in Beijing, and Acason and Sergo Chakhoyan in Athens.

Kelly and Acason have continued to raise the bar since Beijing, with Kelly claiming a gold medal at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Kelly has been weightlifting since high school and broke multiple junior Queensland and National records before making his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008.

Acason appears to be on track to return to Olympic competition following the pregnancy of her first daughter Eva in September 2011 and if she does she will become the first female weightlifter to represent Australia at three Olympics.

The pair could be joined by Cameroon born Simplice Ribouem who claimed gold for Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. 

 

WEIGHTLIFTING FORMAT

Weightlifters must complete two styles of lift on their journey to gold. The snatch comprises of a swift lift from the floor to above the head in a smooth movement. The clean and jerk allows the lifter to pull the bar to their shoulders and hold it momentarily before raising it above their head.

Lifters may have three attempts at each lift, with the best lift in each style counting for their accumulated total score. If lifters are tied, the lighter athlete wins.

 

QUALIFICATION AND SELECTION

The major qualification tournaments are the 2010 World Championships in Antalya, Turkey (Australia failed to secure quota places) and the 2011 World Championships in Paris, France (3-13 November).

If Australia fails to secure a team here the athletes can qualify as a team through continental competitions, with 5 athletes from Oceania qualifying for men and 4 female athletes qualifying.

The remaining quota places are allocated according to the Olympic Qualification Ranking List established on 31 May 2012.

To read all of the selection and qualification documentation click here>>>

 

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC HISTORY

Australia’s weightlifters are returning to their origins in London. Australia was first represented in the sport at the 1948 London Olympic Games. The first Australian weightlifting medal came in 1952 when Vern Barberis won bronze in Helsinki. In 1984 Dean Lukin won Australia’s only gold medal with Robert Kabbas taking silver. The only other Australian medal was won by Stefan Botev in 1996.

To read more about Australia’s Olympic weightlifting history click here>>>