Back yard lifting gains more heft
What was a vege garden and a pile of old concrete is now producing New Zealand weightlifters.
Foxton Beach weightlifting coach Shayne Nation has recently had an Olympic weightlifting area built in his back yard for his athletes to train. Previously, they were training in his driveway or car port.
Nation, a physical education teacher at Manawatu¯ College in Foxton, started coaching one girl three years ago.
Since then, Nation has taught himself everything about the sport and now two of his athletes have competed for New Zealand, and he has a group of other girls training.
‘‘This year it’s taken off,’’ Nation said. ‘‘I’ve taken on another five girls. They’re all from Manawatu¯ College.’’
With help from the community, they have built a fencedoff concrete training pad with lights, so athletes can train at night, and an old garden shed has been turned into a weights room. They are fundraising for more equipment and hope to put a roof over the area.
Sam Hansen, who finished school last year, said she used to be the only one who trained with Nation and people would call her ‘‘driveway girl’’. Hansen, 19, has been to the Youth World Championships in Malaysia, two Pacific mini games and the Oceania Championships.
Shelby Wells, 15, also went to the Oceania Championships.
Manaia Summerell is not far away from representing New Zealand and Nation trains five other girls.
Nation had a background in coaching sport and started training Hansen about three years ago for crossfit. They entered her in weightlifting because they thought it would be good for her crossfit. Not long after her first club competition she was selected for New Zealand and now focuses purely on lifting.
‘‘Sam wanted to get into weightlifting, so I had to jump on the research, learn as much as I could about the sport and learn how to coach it. It evolved from there.’’
The lifters weren’t affiliated to a club, so Nation started the Nation Barbell Club and now they can compete under their own banner.
‘‘The more we get into weightlifting we get to know the community more, and more people jump in willing to help.’’
The club is open to anyone and there is a booking system so lifters don’t clash. Because Nation has a young family and can’t always be coaching, the girls can come and go as they please.
The athletes train five times a week.