Kidding around gives sport a lift
A TASMANIAN gym owner is representing Australia at the world championships of kettlebell lifting, which kicked off in South Korea yesterday.
What is kettlebell, I hear you ask?
It began as a traditional sport in rural Russia, but is rapidly growing in popularity in Australia, both as a fitness activity and competitively.
The activity focuses on repetition and endurance, with participants swinging a large cast-iron weight as many times as they can in a 10-minute period.
The competitive events in kettlebell sport are jerk, snatch and long cycle (clean and jerk).
Eilish Kidd, a 41-year-old mother of three from Sandy Bay, took up the sport four years ago.
“I started kettlebell because it was something I could do anywhere when I had a spare few minutes, such as while waiting for my children at Saturday soccer,” Eilish said.
“It’s incredible to be representing Australia. I hope it encourages others to take up the sport.”
She qualified for the Australian team, which has 13 members, after competing at the national titles in Albury in September.
At the world championships, Eilish will compete in the snatch category with a weight of 16kg.
“It’s going to be exciting to experience kettlebell lifting on an international level,” she said.
“I’m also looking forward to spending time with other members of the Australian team, many of whom are keen to visit Tasmania next year for our state championships.”
The 2017 International Union of Kettlebell Lifting World Championships started in Seoul yesterday and finish tomorrow.