TRAGEDY POWERS TOOMEY
THE fittest woman on earth will use the tragic death of her younger cousin to motivate her towards the podium at the Commonwealth Games.
Tia-Clair Toomey, the reigning Crossfit Games champion, will represent Australia in the women’s 58kg weightlifting competition, dedicating her tilt at gold to her cousin Jade, who died on Tuesday.
“I really want to go out there and give it my absolute all for her, she will be on my side,” Toomey said.
“These lifts, as much as I’m doing it for my country and myself, with the passing of my cousin, I’m going out on to the platform for my little cousin Jade.
“I’ll be thinking about her and it will be in memory of her.”
Toomey, who is well known in crossfit circles and finally reached No.1 in the world last year, said she was focused on the Games, but would use lessons learnt from the Rio Olympics and crossfit during her push for a podium spot.
“I’m very humbled and honoured to experience what I have in the past, but coming into the Commonwealth Games I have a lot of excitement, so I haven’t really thought about crossfit too much.
“I’ve been comparing this experience a lot to Rio … I had the best lead-up to any weightlifting comp I’d ever had and it was really great, however I think I got a bit too anxious, nervous on the platform and I feel like that affected my performance in a way.
“When I look at the numbers there, I think I’ve developed into a much better athlete.”
Toomey competes on Friday, April 6 at 6.30pm.