Raising the Bar

May 31, 2022
Fairholme student, Caitlin Gray

Holly Souter was destined to become a weightlifter, witnessing her mother’s strength in the gym from an early age. We caught up with 13-year-old Holly to learn more about her latest achievements and motivations. 

How did you get into the sport of weightlifting?

I have always been around the sport since I was born, as my mum is a competitive lifter and used to take me to the gym along with a porta cot.


Tell us about your latest achievements?

I recently competed at the state u/15 Youth Championships held at Nambour. Where I placed 3rd in U/15 and 4th in Youth. I also achieved three new competition PBs. Earlier in the year I qualified for the u/15 and Youth National championships. These were meant to be held in Perth, but due to Covid-19 restrictions it is now an online competition. This means that I will travel to Brisbane with other Queensland lifters to compete. 


What sort of training do you have to do to achieve these sorts of results?

My coach currently writes me a three day a week program and each session last about 2 hours. I add extra training on three alternate days before school. (I still participate in school sporting teams on the side.)


Is there a particular discipline that you like the most?

Snatches and Clean and Jerks are the only lifts that we do in competition. The other exercises are all a part of training sessions, along with a number of others. 


What are your goals for 2022? 

My goals for weightlifting for the upcoming Nationals are to Snatch 47kg and to Clean and Jerk 53 kg with total of 100kg plus. For my long-term goals, they consist of qualifying for the Junior World Championships and to be chosen to represent Australia at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.


Do you have any rituals that you stick to before a competition?

Some of my rituals I have the night before a comp is, I clean my lifting shoes and I wash my wrist wraps. I also pack my competition bag with a packet of good old snakes. One last ritual I do before a competition is, I visualise all my lifts and go to bed very early.


Who inspires you?

Not only does my mum inspire me, but Tori Gallegos who trains at our club has been a great inspiration. She has come such a long way and recently competed at the Junior World Championships in Greece. 



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