Headstrong in paving weigh to Commonwealth Games

GEELONG’S Caity Haniver will feature as Australia’s sole female weightlifting representative at next week’s FISU World University Games in Taiwan capital Taipei.

Haniver has impressed in 2017, claiming the Victoria Senior Championship title in her under-69kg category and fifth in the Australian titles.

The 26-year-old, who grew up in Waurn Ponds, devotes up to 20 hours a week in the gym and will compete in both the snatch and the clean and jerk categories.

A former gymnast and now Commonwealth Games aspirant, Haniver dabbled in rowing, soccer, netball and dancing before transitioning to weightlifting.

Haniver trains at Melbourne Weightlifting Club under the guidance of coaches Phillip Christou and Matthew Ciancio.

Always inspired by a challenge, the unconquerable nature of the sport is what motivates Haniver each day.

“The bar can always get heavier, your body can always get stronger. There is always someone you’re chasing. There is really no set end point,” she said.

“This is both totally terrify- ing and overwhelming, but also incredibly empowering.

“The sky is the limit and if you work hard you can keep progressing forward.”

Complementary to her health and fitness-orientated lifestyle, the personal trainer and CrossFit coach also studies osteopathy at Melbourne’s RMIT University.

Haniver said that although balancing university with her training could be a struggle, she had a remarkable support network of family and friends.

The Australian weightlifting team will field a squad of five for the uni games.

As Australia’s only female representative, Haniver hopes the sport’s female participation will continue to expand.

“Weightlifting is an amazing sport that is doing amazing things for women all over the world by building strong bodies and strong minds,” she said.

“It’s empowering for women to push their physical limits and develop strength and confidence in themselves based on performance rather than aesthetics.”

Haniver hopes her first national team appearance will launch her into a career of green and gold opportunities.

Looking ahead, qualification for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is on her agenda.