Elliott gutted with fourth as Nauru teen shines
Roger Vaughan |
Nauru phenomenon Femily Crystie-Notte was just four years old when Australian Kiana Elliott started her weightlifting career, 13 years ago.
“Far out – now you’re making me feel old, I turned 29 yesterday,” Elliott said as she burst out laughing.
It was a rare moment of levity as a tearful Elliott grappled with a wave of conflicting emotions at the Commonwealth Games.
She finished fourth again early on Wednesday morning (AEST), after missing bronze by one kilogram four years ago for the same result in Birmingham.
Beset by injuries, Elliott made the tough decision ahead of Glasgow to go up a weight class from 58 to 63kg, for the sake of her health.
But that meant she had to come up against 33-year-old Canadian great Maude Charron, who has won gold and silver at the last two Olympics.
Charron set a Games record of 232kg as she beat England’s Sarah Davies Smale, also 33, who won 71kg gold in Birmingham.
And then there’s 17-year-old Notte, who is continuing Nauru’s extraordinary run of weightlifting success. All its 10 Commonwealth Games golds have been in the sport and Notte won their 33rd medal.
On the day before, Ezekiel Moses also won bronze for Nauru in the men’s 71kg.
“Maude is a top competitor, Sarah is so strong and Femily is coming through and fighting like hell, setting the standard for what weightlifting can be,” Elliott said.
“Sometimes you end up in the most competitive weight class and that’s fine.”
But Elliott needed several minutes to compose herself after coming so close again to the podium.
She finished two kilograms behind Notte and had the Australian nailed her last clean-and-jerk attempt, it would have put Elliott in the bronze medal position.
“I have no idea what happened on that third attempt, honestly, all I wanted to do today was put absolutely everything into what I did out there on the platform,” Elliott said
“That’s what I did. I’m gutted (with) fourth – fourth four years ago – but I came in to put up a fight.
“I didn’t pick the easy option and it’s a privilege and an honour to compete against such competitive athletes.”
Elliott said it was not worth her health to try for the lower weight category as she battled injury ahead of Glasgow.
“Weightlifting is about lifting weights, it’s not about being a smaller person and I’m proud that I chose the difficult option,” she said.
“I’m not done yet. Fourth and fourth is a pretty tough pill to swallow. (But) I have to be really proud.”
As Elliott vowed to come back and Charron said she is unsure how much longer her storied career will continue, the shy teen from Nauru was taking in her outstanding Games debut.
She had plenty of family staying up early in the morning back home to watch the competition.
“My grandfather said ‘I’m saving my eyeballs for you,” said Notte, who also has relatives in Brisbane.
“I’m beyond happy about myself.
“I want to be more like them – strong and get to their dreams – Olympic champion.”
Earlier on day five, Australian Ryven Ewing was fifth in the men’s 88kg as Malaysian Hafizuddin Bin Roslin Muhammad won gold.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Commonwealth Games Australia.
AAP