WEIGHT-LIFTER Apolonia Vaivai continues to create history after she broke the 17-year-old record set by Australia’s Michelle Kettner in 2000.
Vaivai broke the Oceania’s oldest record in the Commonwealth Championships and Oceania Championships in the 69 kilograms weight category on the Gold Coast, Australia on Friday.
Vaivai is the first Fijian to have won a Commonwealth title with a sterling performance in her career. Weightlifting Fiji president Atma Maharaj said he was very impressed with Vaivai’s performance.
“Apolonia recorded a personal best of 227 kilograms for her 69kg weight category. Apolonia lifted 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk,” he said.
“In second place was Punam Yadav of India with a total lift of 217kg, Sarah Davis of England was third with 212kg and Philippa Malone of Australia finished fourth with 202kg. Apolonia broke the Oceania record five times during the competition, once in a snatch and twice each in the clean and jerk and the total lifts,” Maharaj said.
“She broke the old record of 100kg in the snatch and 122kg in clean and jerk and a total of 222kg set by Michelle Kettner of Australia in 2000.
“This was the third year in a row that Apolonia won a Commonwealth Championship title.”
Meanwhile, Eileen Cikamatana will compete in the 90kg weight category today.
