Weightlifters Eileen Cikamatana, Jacqueline Nichele and Kyle Bruce have been selected in the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with the trio named at the Victorian Weightlifting Stadium in Melbourne today.
The three 24-year-olds will all make their Olympic debut in Paris, Cikamatana in the women’s 81kg division, Nichele in the women’s 71kg and Bruce the men’s 89kg class.
Cikamatana is a reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Oceania record holder and bronze medallist at the 2024 World Cup event in Thailand.
Bruce is a 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Oceania record holder, while Nichele is a Pacific Games champion and heading to her first Olympics only five years after taking up the sport.
The athletes earned their spot at Paris through an exhaustive weightlifting qualification process, with Cikamatana finishing the ranking period ranked fourth in the world to secure a quota, while Bruce and Nichele both finished as the top Oceania athletes in world rankings to book their Olympic ticket.
The team were announced at the Oceania Weightlifting Elite International Tournament at Hawthorn’s Victorian Weightlifting Stadium, with Bruce and Cikamatana slated to compete later today in the hours after their announcement.
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AOC President Ian Chesterman congratulated the athletes on their selection.
“The AOC is thrilled to announced Eileen, Jacqueline and Kyle to represent Australia at the Paris Olympic Games,” Mr Chesterman said. “They will build on the legacy of the 66 Australian weightlifting Olympians who have gone before them.
“Seeing these athletes compete at the Solomon Islands Pacific Games last year, I saw firsthand their talent, commitment to excellence and attitude that will serve them well in Paris. In sessions they weren’t competing in, the Australian athletes were helping load weight plates for other countries and contributing to the smooth running of the international event.
“This is a great testament to their character and the environment built by the Australian Weightlifting Federation.
“Congratulations to the athletes, your coaches, support staff, friends and family who will all be celebrating you reaching this Olympic milestone.”
Cikamatana shares a love of the sport and her weightlifting community that has helped her on her Olympic journey, with a steely focus on what she wants to achieve in Paris.
“My goal for Paris is to be on the podium. Going to the Paris Olympics is a dream come true, almost 10 years in the making,” Cikamatana said.
“I love weightlifting, it makes me feel strong not only physically but mentally. I’m my own opponent, I worry about nobody else. It makes me resilient and keeps me grounded, grateful and humble.
“I have my own family - mum, dad, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces. I have my weightlifting family - the Australian Weightlifting Federation and the athletes which I train with. And I have my special family, my coach Paul Coffa and my mentor Lilly Coffa. I have been with them since 2016.
“They have all collectively played a huge part in my Paris campaign. I am eternally grateful to them - my achievements in Paris will be also their achievements.”
Newcastle local Nichele is excited at the opportunity to inspire people through her Olympic journey.
“I love being a woman in such a strong sport, inspiring other girls to do what I’m doing without the fear of getting ‘too big’ or not feeling feminine enough,” she said. “You can be undeniably strong, brave and powerful regardless of who you are.
“It feels absolutely surreal to be on the Olympic team. The Olympics was a goal my coach set out for me when I first started in 2019, but it seemed like something completely out of reach. I don’t think it will feel real until I’m on the big stage!
“My goal for Paris is to simply do the best that I can on the day and be proud of the person that steps onto that stage.
“My support system has been incredible - my coach, my parents, my partner. I am surrounded by so many incredible friends and family who have been cheering me on this whole journey.”
Sydney-sider Bruce was thrilled to lock in his Olympic debut.
“It is every Aussie kid’s dream to go to the Olympics to represent the green and gold, wear the Australian coat of arms,” said Bruce.
“I’m super grateful. I’m so passionate about my country I adore this country, it has done so much for me. I’m so patriotic, and to be selected for the Olympics means so much to me. I’m living the dream.”
Australian Weightlifting President Sam Coffa congratulated the team on their selection.
“It’s great to see the team announced today, it’s so exciting,” Mr Coffa said. “We’re very hopeful of some great results in Paris.
“Thank you as well to all the coaches, they play such a big part. No one can get to the Olympics without their coach and support staff and I’m very grateful for all the work our people do.”
