Hobart’s Kaity Fassina overcome a minor hiccup to claim Commonwealth Games silver in the women's 90kg weightlifting.
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In front of a partisan home crowd, the 27-year-old rode a roller-coaster of emotions.
In the snatch, Fassina was initially given a clean lift at 103kg only to see the decision over-ruled and the lift declared invalid for a bent knee.
Undeterred, she then recorded a 104kg lift before completing successful clean and jerks at 120, 124 and 128kg for a total of 232kg.
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Fijian veteran Eileen Cikamatana was sitting second with a 103kg snatch and waited until she knew what was required to beat Fassina and delivered a 130kg clean and jerk at her first attempt to win the gold with a 233kg total. Cameroon’s Clementine Noumbissi claimed bronze with a 226kg total.
“It was amazing. The nerves were unreal but it was an amazing feeling and I'm super happy that this is the outcome,” said Fassina, who has world, world university, Commonwealth and Australian championship experience behind her.
“I'm very happy with silver. I'm just happy to be here. I just wanted to get on the podium. Everyone was asking if I wanted gold but I said if I'm on the podium I'll be happy. That's what I came here to do and I've done it.
“I came in knowing she (Cikamatana) probably had a better clean and jerk than me. The aim was to try and get more on the snatch, but then it was more about staying ahead of the Cameroon girl. It could have been more than 232kg if the snatch had gone a bit better but my coach said just do what you need to do to get a medal. It was more about tactics to get on the podium rather than doing PBs.”
Asked about the judge’s call, she said: “I have been warned about that before, that sometimes I don't lock out my knees, so when it happened I was more annoyed at myself. It was more my error than anything, I just got a bit too excited.”
Reflecting on an eventful four years, which saw her fall pregnant when preparing for the Rio Olympic trials, the Weightlifting Academy of Glenorchy athlete said she would not change anything and was delighted to have her two-year-old son Gabe watching her compete.
“It's great to have him here. I had to block him out a bit but I got really teary seeing him at the medal presentation.
“It just shows that the last four years, everything that's happened it was all worth it.
“It's all been a huge surprise and I guess I've been winging it for the last two years. It's really shown me that you can't plan ahead for too long.
“As much as I couldn't go to trials for Rio, I wouldn't change things at all because I've got my son now. I've got the best of both worlds - I'm a mum and I'm an elite athlete and wouldn't change a thing because he's completely changed my whole world perspective.”
The Friends School teacher was proud to boost Tasmania’s medal haul and was even presented with her Borobi bear during the ceremony by Legana’s Ian Chesterman, who is Australia’s Olympic chef de mission.
“Go Tassie,” she said. “I love Tasmania, Hobart’s my city, even when I moved to Melbourne to study for four years, Hobart was my home and I'll always be a proud Hobart person.
“Tassie is getting some really good quality athletes now which is amazing.”