WAKELING LIFTS HIS AMBITIONS EVER HIGHER

BRANDON Wakeling has only been weightlifting for two years but he’s already good enough to represent Australia in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Gold Coaster, who trains 11 times a week, is only 5kg away from breaking an Australian weightlifting record.

“I was always training at the gym and took an interest in lifting,” he said. “I started at the end of 2015 and by 2017 had dedicated all of my time to it.”

Brandon’s passion for weightlifting brought him as far as Turkmenistan in Asia, where he placed 8th in an international competition.

Since then he has competed in several “high degree” local competitions where he has prepared for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

He credits his rapid success to his trainer Linzey Beister, who has been his coach since August 2015.

“He is very explosive and strong,” Beister said. “My goal for him is eventually the 2020 Olympic Games.”