Strand weightlifter Phia Mare Phillips hit a treble victory after being crowned junior women’s champion of champions and best junior female for 2022, as well as winning a gold medal in the 81 kg weightlifting category at the South African Youth and Junior National Weightlifting Championships in Johannesburg earlier this month.
It was the perfect send-off in the junior category for the 19-year-old who will compete in the senior categories from later this year.
The elated teenager related that training for the competition was very intense as she is currently training at two gyms, one to maintain strength and one to focus on her technique.
“I made sure not to miss a single training session as I had my goals and achievements in mind. I also had to change my diet to maintain weight for my selected category.”
Of the six attempts competitors were given, she made all her lifts which gave her a perfect six-from-six ratio for the day. “This is definitely what I aimed for,” Phia said.
“I had goal weights in mind before the competition and did exactly that, so I was very proud of my accomplishments.”
She admitted that her dedication to the sport has grown over the past year, with this year being her sixth participating in the gruelling sporting code.
“In the past year I realised this is my life, and I want to take it all the way to the top as long as my weights increase and my body weight decreases I am a happy lifter.”
During warm-ups at the competition she had time to scope her opponents for the day and clarify her goals in her head.
“I made sure I got all my lifts to at least score a gold medal. The last time I received champ of champs was in 2019 and I did not expect to receive it again. My weight category and my snatch and clean, and jerk attempts allowed me to qualify for the junior women champion of champions. I was ecstatic, overjoyed and so proud of myself when I received my award.”
Phia said after the competition, all she could think of was food. “I needed to get some junk food into my body – it was my way of celebrating! We did not have a lot of time in Johannesburg after the competition, as we had to leave early the next morning.
“Also, the love and support I received from my family and friends at home was overwhelming; it encouraged me to keep on pushing.”
She now has her sights set on senior competitions and is aiming to participate in the Western Province Senior and SA Senior championships at the end of the year.
“The main goal is to qualify for African Games and many, many more international competitions,” she concluded.
