Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
A Canadian and Pan-American champion weightlifter calls Napanee home.
Sarah Condon came back from the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Championship in Gaspe, Que. last week with the gold medal from her age bracket in the 58-kg weight class.
That’s not bad for someone who didn’t even think she’d be involved in her sport as recently as five years ago. Indeed, the Starlet salesperson isn’t someone most would think of as a lifter. She noted when most people think of her sport, they think about body builders first, but it’s much more inclusive.
“I’ve been so involved with sports for so long and it wasn’t even a sport I would have had on my radar,” Condon said. “It’s something that’s very inclusive. Anybody can do it, whether you’re young, old, big, or small. It’s a good sport for basic health as well.”
Condon started out watching her husband lift at the Victory Barbell Club in Ameliasburgh, just south of Belleville. The more she watched, the more she was encouraged that she might as well try it. Coach Gary Lewis offered a positive learning environment and helped set achievable goals.
“I started to do it for fun and our coach really encourages all of our athletes to go to competition, even if it’s local. You go and see what your numbers are. If you’re working toward something, you might as well have a goal,” she said. “We’re a small, tight-knit family and we really encourage each other.”
Competitive lifting, or Olympic weightlifting, includes two types of lifts — the snatch and the clean-and-jerk. The snatch is a singular motion, lifting the weight from the floor up over the head. The clean-and-jerk involves one movement to the shoulders and another above the head.
Technique is important for both. Condon said at the Victory club, athletes work on basic strength building, including squats and deadlifts, but attention to technical aspects can make or break a competition or be the difference between a personal best and another lift.
“We do work on basic technique, keeping your back straight and pushing more with your legs. We focus on doing this right so that way you’re not going to get injured,” she said. “If you’re using the technique properly, that’s what’s going to get you more weight on the bar as well.”
Training three times a week for an hour-and-a-half to two hours, Condon said there are always little things that can be done to improve or to evolve toward a goal.
Evidently, that practice paid off. After winning a Canadian title in 2016, Condon didn’t compete nationally last year. She returned to the platform in Gaspe by lifting 45 kg (about 100 lbs) in the snatch and another 52 kilos (111 lbs) in clean-and-jerk to win.
On the competition platform there were two or three weight classes at once. They started with light lifts and increased by increments until each competitor had three attempts at each lift. Condon said she was feeling the adrenaline as she competed.
“I really feel that, honestly, there’s always an adrenaline, both from everyone else and from yourself,” she said. “You really feed off each other. It’s not that you want to see someone miss a lift, but that opens the door for you to jump in and overtake them.”
Condon said the mental game also really comes into play when you’re alone with bar in hand. It can be easy to focus on other competitors and get away from successful techniques.
“I try to focus on the lifts I know I can make,” Condon said. “As much as you’re competing against the other people, you’re really competing against yourself.”
She said there wasn’t really a moment when she knew she’d done enough to win in competition. Having been to several events, she knows anything can happen, so it’s important to wait until everyone has lifted before celebrating. In Gaspe, another Victory lifter was on the platform at the same time, so Condon really enjoyed being able to finally celebrate alongside her.
The win in her first international competition opens an exciting opportunity for Condon. Her weights allowed her to qualify for the world championships.
“I’m hanging onto the fact my total has qualified me for Montreal next year. Everything else, I’ll have to wait and go from there. Right now, I’ve been on an international platform and it’s pretty exciting. I’ll keep training and keep building up more weight. Whatever happens out on the platform is a bonus.”
Condon said at her age, the worlds is likely the highest level of competition. At past events, she has been able to share a platform with people who lift at Olympic standards. One person lifting weights last weekend actually had been to the Olympics. That is exciting, but so is sharing the sport with less experienced lifters. The Victory club already has lifters of all age levels, including teens, and all skill levels, but Condon sees potential to inspire others to get involved.
“Every time we’re at a competition, we have people that are inspired and excited to learn more about the sport has to offer,” she said. “Olympic weightlifting is growing again, especially with women. That’s pretty exciting. I hope down the road to maybe help out with coaching when I have a little bit more experience under my belt.”