Kelly backs experience
Veteran Australian weightlifter Damon Kelly is banking on experience to usurp the young giants standing between him and a gold medal at his swansong Commonwealth Games.
Failing that, he’ll settle for a Steven Bradbury moment.
Kelly’s super-heavyweight showdown tonight will likely be the last for the 34-year-old who won gold at Delhi 2010, silver at Melbourne 2006 and bronze at Glasgow 2014.
And the bearded 150kg colossus would go out with a bang if he had his way.
But he’ll have to lift a whole lot more than that to outdo the best in the 105kg-plus field.
Samoan Lautiti Lui, Pakistan’s Muhammad Butt, India’s Gurdeep Singh and Kiwi David Liti are all aged 22 or under but have been hoisting combined totals of at least 15kg more than Kelly.
The Brisbane-based father of three is just hoping his extra decade of experience offers a mental edge.
“I know in terms of weights I’m probably behind the top guys but I just want to lift well and put pressure on them,” Kelly said.
“I’ve got the experience and the younger guys in the top ranks, it’ll be their first Games.
“I’d love to be competitive and a shot for a medal, or even pull off a Bradbury-type win.”
Meanwhile, Kelly’s teammate Pip Malone has blamed nerves after missing out on a bronze medal and finishing fifth in the women’s 69kg class.
The 28-year-old from Newcastle was tied in third after a best snatch of 95kg but twice failed a 117kg clean and jerk, leaving her 209kg total 7kg short of Fijian third place-getter Apolonia Vaivai.
“The nerves got to my legs a bit by the clean and jerk. I felt a little bit weak through the legs,” Malone said.