Wrexham.com > News
Posted: Wed 13th Nov 2024
A 10-year-old from Wrexham has been crowned the Girls U10 British Weightlifting Champion.
Powerhouse Hattie has been weightlifting since she was just seven-years-old.
On October 19, she took to the stage alongside athletes from across the UK to compete in the British Age Groups Weightlifting Championships.
Capable of lifting an incredible 30kg overheard, Hattie secured near perfect scores to secure the gold medal.
Hannah, Hattie’s mum, enrolled her into a local weightlifting class as a way to help her daughter, who has struggled in the past with anxiety in larger group settings.
“We tried the usual ballet, gymnastics, street dance – all of which she enjoyed but not enough to keep her interested as she can struggle in large groups,” explained Hannah.
“When I saw a local weightlifting class, I thought there was no harm in getting her to try it. From the moment she joined, she fell in love with the weights.
“She enjoyed the group setting but as the main focus is on what she was needed to lift as an individual, it worked well and kept her motivated.”
Since then Hattie’s passion for weightlifting has gone from strength to strength.
She now trains four times a week after school and began competing when she turned eight-years-old – just one year after starting her weightlifting journey.
Since competing Hattie has always finished within the top three and has dreams of joining the Wales squad when she turns 13 and securing an Olympic medal.
Hannah said: “Hattie remains dedicated and focused of course, she has her moments, like any other 10-year-old and she’d prefer to play out with her friends.
“But with a little gentle push from mum she remains looking ahead to the future and knows how important each training session is.
“Hattie’s dream is to represent Wales when she’s old enough to join the squad at 13 then next stop – the Olympics.
“In time, Hattie also wants to help other young people overcome any anxieties they may have as she understands how important exercise is and its link with mental health.
“With the way Hattie is performing to date, her dreams could certainly become a reality.”
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