Championship star brings bronze home Busy schedule continues as Rowan heads for Kosovo
Jet-setter Rowan Morrogh Bernard returned to the Pitlochry gym this week after a podium performance in Australia’s Gold Coast.
The committed weightlifting star is back in training and reflecting on a bronze medal win at the Commonwealth Youth Championships.
Former Breadalbane Academy pupil Rowan (16), competing in the 58kg class, achieved all six of her lifts with personal bests of 62kg snatch and 82kg clean and jerk for a 144kg total.
She was delighted with her performance but revealed Pitlochry Weightlifting Club secretary and coach Alex Phillips made the success possible.
“On the way to the airport our car actually broke down so we phoned Alex and he was there to give me a lift,” Rowan said. “I wouldn’t have been able to go to the Gold Coast without him. He saved the day. Alex does so much for the club and Weightlifting Scotland. We appreciate it so much.
“I was over in Australia for a few days before I competed and then everything went to plan on competition day.
“I was competing against people I’ve come up against since I was 12 and we’re really good friends now.
“I was hoping to finish in the top 10 youths so to get a medal was a massive bonus on top of my performance, which I was so happy with.
“I got six out of six lifts and then a coupe of personal bests. Everyone did really well and all of the youths won medals.
Rowan (second from left) performed with the Scottish team in Australia “I’m on track to hopefully go to the ahead of taking to the mat later this Commonwealth Games in 2022 - I’m month. where I want to be just now. I just need Rowan said: “I went to the Europeans keep training harder.” in 2015 and I managed to finish
Despite only just returning from seventh in the under-15 event. Now down under, Rowan’s attention I’m under-17 and being in the top has turned to her next test on the 10 is where I want to be. Some of the international weightlifting stage. A competitors my age, the things they boarding pass bound for the European can do is really impressive. Youths in Kosovo will be printed out “I’m back for nine days before I’m away again so for now it is about ticking over. I come into train every day and sometimes twice a day. Everything is on track for the Europeans.”
A familiar face will be joining Rowan in the British team at the Europeans her younger sister Holly. The talented siblings have broken countless national records in recent years and continue to make use of Live Active Atholl in Pitlochry.
“Me and my sister Holly are different body weights and are different age groups too, so we don’t clash,” Rowan explained.
“The people whose records I’m taking are some of the best lifters in Scotland - to keep on doing that is putting me in the right place.
“My sister keeps track of the records but I don’t, they are noted down on a bit of paper. Sometimes people take the record back, so I have to break it again.
“The Live Active Atholl has been brilliant. I’m on the Talented Athlete scheme with Live Active and to be able to come in and train whenever I want, and as much as I want, is brilliant. I wouldn’t be able to do this without it.”
She is still rising through the ranks herself but Rowan has completed a coaching qualification and is helping to raise the bar for the next generation.
She said: “The kids night at Pitlochry is growing all of the time. I got my coaching qualification earlier in the year and that has been so much fun for me. I don’t know if I’m really a role model, but the kids are cool and they work really hard.
“The whole community of weightlifting in Scotland is so tightknit. I just kept on coming back and here I am now.”