Kiana snatches time with Nelson mentor
On the cusp of Commonwealth Games selection, a visit to Nelson has lifted the spirits of Australian weightlifter Kiana Elliott.
The 20-year-old pocket rocket from Sydney arrived last week for a period of training with her former mentor and Nelson coach Lester Keene.
During a four-year stint in Sydney, Keene first became acquainted with junior champion Elliott while coaching at her Mona Vale gym in 2012.
‘‘I was quite sad to see him go – Lester’s this really calm figure that I can bounce ideas off and get advice – he’s been there before so it’s great having his experience and I’m really grateful for that,’’ Elliott said.
A close friendship developed and since returning home in 2016, Keene had extended an invitation for some training across the Tasman.
‘‘I said when I left that it’d be really good if she came over to see us at some stage – I knew she’d be busy with all her Comm Games prep but she said ‘what are you doing after Christmas?’’
As well as maintaining her training schedule, Elliott said she would find time to get around the Nelson region before she leaves.
‘‘It’s actually a really nice change to be honest, it’s really hot in Sydney and I don’t really get many opportunities to have training with a bit of exploring inbetween.’’
Now coached by Kiwi Martin Harlowe, Elliott only started weightlifting in June 2013 after a series of injuries put an end to a promising gymnastics career.
‘‘I got to a point where I was like ‘you know what, I value my long term health’ – but I really missed it,’’ she said.
After begging her mother for a ticket to a weightlifting workshop, Elliott’s potential for bigger things was quickly identified.
That early promise inevitably led to numerous Australian junior records and four consecutive national titles to her name.
She has also competed at the junior world championships, where she won bronze in the 63kg division and won gold at the 2016 Oceania Championships.
Now in the senior ranks, Elliott was still holding out for Commonwealth Games selection, despite being on stand-by for the 63kg, 69kg and 75kg weight categories.
‘‘Nothing’s official yet, but it would be incredible – I’ve heard so many good things about Melbourne 2006 ,so I can only imagine what Gold Coast 2018 will be like.’’
A former New Zealand representative who competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, Keene backed Elliott to do well should she make the Gold Coast Games in April.
Having narrowly missed out on selection for the 1994 Victoria Games in Canada, Keane appreciated Elliott’s situation and was happy to offer some time to come and train with local weightlifters.
‘‘It’s pretty good to have some one of this calibre come in and show the other lifters what’s possible,’’ he said.