With the luxury of two Olympic campaigns under her belt, weightlifter Deborah Acason (nee Lovely) is shaking up her pre-Games routine leading to London 2012. Acason and her husband Josh welcomed their first child Eva into the world this year on September 7th. Seven weeks on, the three-time Commonwealth Games medallist is looking forward to launching back into training and is hoping for a third shot at Olympic glory.

Naturally, it is all baby steps for Acason, who hopes to be contesting the “super” 75+kg division in London. As determined as ever, before the back pain set in during her pregnancy Acason still managed to do light squats and weights “like your average gym junkie” but avoided major lifting.

“I just went down to the local gym and it made me feel better. It was really helpful for me during the pregnancy and I’m really glad I did it,” Acason explained.

Three weeks after giving birth to Eva- who blissfully sleeps around the clock and rarely cries, Acason eased herself back into push-ups and is now into slightly heavier training a few times a week. Precautious not to injure herself, Acason will wait a full eight weeks before launching into any more adventurous training.

“I feel really good and my coach was really excited,” Acason explained of her return to light training.

“He told me I have all of these extra hormones in my system so I might as well use them to my advantage!”

Despite not having taken Eva down to her regular training gym just yet, Acason has the “I love Weightlifting” T-Shirt prepared for the big day, and it sounds like Eva fits the part.

Each week as mum takes bub in for her weigh-in, Acason feels those familiar nerves of when she has her own weigh-ins leading into the big events. With your average baby gaining around 150g each week, young Eva is eating like a champion and comes in 400g heavier each week.

“She’s got a good set of legs on her and I look forward to seeing how she grows up,” Acason beamed, “the nurses all say she’s very strong.”

Acason is, after all, a genuine sporting all-rounder, having also represented Australia as a junior in discus and hammer throw, won track cycling medals after taking up the sport for rehabilitation, and was once a member of the Australian rugby union training squad. Having competed in weightlifting for around 13 years, the Beijing Olympic finalist is confident she can return to form for the London Olympics.

“Your body doesn’t really forget too easily. I went over to lift the bar and it was like I’d never left.”

The 28-year-old looks set to return to competition for the National Club Championships in Melbourne in March. She hopes this will lead to her qualification for the Oceania Championships in Samoa where she wants to lift a “big one” and sure up a quota place at the Games, before securing her spot at the Olympic Trials in Brisbane in June.

Having endured the pains of child birth, the weightlifting does not seem as tough anymore. Acason is looking forward to the heavy training block leading into March which her body usually responds to.

So if she books her ticket to London will there be room for Eva?

“Absolutely! I don’t think I could part with her for more than one day!”

Taya Conomos
AOC