Medlow Bath weightlifter Jocelyne Francken has a challenging few weeks ahead.
The 22-year-old competes in the Oceania Championships on the Gold Coast later this week, where a good result bodes well for 2018 Commonwealth Games trials. Then it’s on to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, facing Asia and Oceania’s best lifters. Francken was one of six Australian weightlifters selected to compete.
“The prospect of wearing the green and gold is very exciting,” the ex Katoomba High student said.
“To have the experience to go overseas to be part of a team and representing Australia is the best opportunity, especially for someone like me who has just started their weightlifting career.”
Francken was only introduced to weightlifting four years ago when she tried a CrossFit class in Lawson. She’s no stranger to competitive sport however, representing NSW in pentathlon as a teenager, and growing up with Little Athletics.
“CrossFit gave me a good start,” she said.
But in November 2016 she started seriously training under coach Martin Harlowe at Triumph Weightlifting Club in Mona Vale and has seen a vast improvement.
“I’ve been refining technique and my numbers have gone up,” she said. Weighing 69kg, she lifts 101kg clean and jerk and 85kg snatch (lifting in one motion). She was fourth at the national championships in June.
