Birmingham, England – Sky Norris turned in a courageous performance to snatch sixth-place in the women’s 55kg final of the weightlifting competition here at the ongoing Commonwealth Games on Saturday night.
The British-born Jamaican who stands at 150cm and is a relative newcomer to the sport, defied the odds inside the National Exhibition Centre by producing personal best lifts to finish just three places outside the medals in only her second international competition for Jamaica.
Norris opened the snatch competition by successfully lifting 74kg, but registered a no lift at 77kg on her second attempt. She returned to complete her routine by lifting a personal best 78kg.
In the clean and jerk section, she started with 85kg, and moved up to 88kg in her second attempt before ending with another personal best 92kg on her third attempt, for an overall score of 170kg, obviously another personal best.
The event was won by Nigeria Adijat Olarinoye, who registered a games record 92kg in the snatch, and 111kg in the clean and jerk for a games record total of 203kg.
India’s Bindyarani Sorokhaibam claimed the silver medal with a 202kg total, 86kg in the snatch and a games record 116kg in the clean and jerk, while England’s Fraer Morrow settled for the bronze with 89kg in the snatch and 109kg in the clean and jerk.
Norris was over the moon with her performance and experience at the games.
“It was a good experience, it was my second time representing Jamaica on the international stage and I did the best that I could and I’m very proud of my performance,” she told CWN Network.
She added: “I was expecting a little bit more, but I’m glad I did it under all that pressure, all different things that happened during the competition and I’m happy with what I’ve done.”
The petite, 23-year-old who had family members watching in the stands, had just one no lift in her six attempts, the second try in the snatch at 77kg.
“So the snatch, my second attempt I’m a bit disappointed, but I feel I rushed it too much as I got ahead of myself. But it grounded me and when I did my third attempt I got that one,” she explained.
She further told CNW Network that she felt dizzy in the warm-up room ahead of the clean and jerk competition, which caused some anxiety, but once she arrived on the platform, she was at ease.
Now she is savouring the experience at the Commonwealth Games and hopes that she kicks on from here and helps to inspire others to improve the sport in Jamaica.
“The first Commonwealth Games is amazing, the village is amazing, the support being with the other Jamaican athletes, being around other Jamaicans, is a good vibe.”
Now she hopes to “train harder, of course, always have to improve, but try to connect with more Jamaican athletes, try to have more connections and try to lift Jamaica weightlifting across the board.”
