Erika Yamasaki (59kg), Kiana Elliott (64kg), Charisma Amoe-Tarrant (+87kg), Brandon Wakeling (73kg) and Matthew Lydement (109kg) will all make their Olympic debut in Tokyo.

Wakeling becomes the second Indigenous Australian to lift at an Olympics, joining Anthony Martin from Sydney 2000.

Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Ian Chesterman congratulated the athletes.

“It’s fantastic to welcome five weightlifters to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo,” Mr Chesterman said.

“This is the most weightlifters Australia has sent to an Olympics since our home Games in Sydney, and is testament to the fantastic work of all the athletes, their coaching and support staff and Australian Weightlifting Federation to secure these five Olympic spots.

“All the weightlifters are making their debut, so it will be exciting to see them in action in Tokyo and they will  provide inspiration to those athletes who will aspire to be part of the Australian Olympic Team in Paris in 2024 and beyond.

“Congratulations to all the athletes for this achievement and to your families, friends and supporters who have helped them realise their Olympic dream.

Holding more than 15 national records over almost two decades of elite competition and the only Australian woman to clean and jerk her double-bodyweight, 33-year-old Erika Yamasaki is ecstatic to make her Olympic debut.

“I have always dreamed about going to the Olympics,” Yamasaki said. “I feel like I will be representing everything I believe in - not only the 21 years I have been in the sport, but everyone who has been a part of my journey, my coaches, my club, my state, and especially my family. We did it!!”

“My dad was born and raised in Yonago, a prefecture in Tottori along the west coast of Japan. I feel right at home whenever I am in Japan - Japan is me! And really, my Olympic dream blossomed from a seed my dad planted in my head as a kid!

“When Japan was first announced in 2013 as the host nation, I always wanted that to be the Olympics I could make, but laughed as I thought I would be too old. After missing out in Rio I thought my chance of ever going to an Olympics was over – but here I am and I get to represent Australia in Tokyo! It all just feels like it was meant to be.”

27-year-old Gold Coast local Brandon Wakeling hopes his debut Olympics can inspire the next generation of lifters.

“It’s an honour to be able to continue the line of Indigenous representation in the sport of weightlifting,” Wakeling said. “In being the second indigenous Australian to lift for Australia at the Olympics, I am very much looking forward to seeing that number grow in the years to come.

“My family has been following closely to my journey to Tokyo since the first Olympic qualifying competition at the end of 2018. It’s been a very long qualifying period, with many highs and lows involved and my family are so proud to see me live out my Olympic dream.”

Today’s announcement takes the number of athletes selected to 273 of an expected 450-480.

CEO of the Australian Weightlifting Federation Ian Moir welcomed today’s selection.

“The qualification process for these Games began more than two and a half years ago, and there have been a few twists and turns over that time, and a great deal of uncertainty,” Mr Moir said.

“Now we’re here, at the final selection and Australian Weightlifting is so very proud of each and every one of these athletes. We can’t wait to see them on the platform in Tokyo.”

The Weightlifting competition will run from 24 to 28 July and 31 July to 4 August at the Tokyo International Forum. Find out more about Weightlifting at the Olympic Games in the infographic below.

Weightlifting Snapshot