This week Bill Carne chats to Helena Madan, who has enjoyed success in sports as diverse as gymnastics, athletics and weight-lifting, where she has previously been a Welsh Champion in the first two, and is currently making a name for herself in the last-named…
IN the past year, Helena Madan has really blossomed in the world of weightlifting, having previously taken part in swimming and gymnastics as a nipper, and excelled in range of athletics’ activities that include hurdles, high jump and shot putt – and even throwing the hammer!
At present Helena is a committed competitor who trains very regularly at the Strength Academy Wales in Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest, and in the summer might just return to her running, throwing and jumping with the Pembrokeshire Harriers as a Welsh Schools high jump champion, amongst other credits.
But in the meanwhile she can be found most dark evenings of the week training alongside sister Anita, who is another champion in her own right, both enjoying terrific support from their mother Fiona, who encourages them in all they do.
Helena first attended the SAW gym around a year ago when she was home from university in Worcester, where she obtained a 2.1 (Hons) degree in Biology – and decided to join younger sister Anita, who was already making a name for herself as one of the batch of talented young weightlifters already breaking through.
She was immediately made welcome by owner Simon Roach and the other coach in Owain Rowlands (who has sadly returned to North Wales), plus all the other participants and was immediately impressed by the careful way that she was inducted into this new sport.
“At first I was only allowed to use a bar without any weights attached as I was shown the technique for the ‘Clean & Jerk’ lift,” Helena told us, “and I practised this over and over again until it was almost second nature before I was allowed to slowly add some light weights to the bar – always supervised by a coach.
“It was a similar approach that was used when I moved on to the ‘Snatch’ technique, which I found harder to adapt because it is almost one explosive movement from the floor to the completed lift.
“But with lots of encouragement I have gradually built up my weight totals and after only three months of weightlifting I was taking part in my first competition – but nothing prepares you for that moment when you stand alone on the mat in front of other competitors and an audience”
“It’s scary to say the least but once I had overcome my nerves I was really pleased to record 63kgs in the clean and jerk and 50kgs in the snatch!”
Then it was on to the Welsh Open, held at the National Centre of Excellence in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, where Helena came a very creditable second and showed how much she had improved with best lifts 70kgs (clean and jerk) and 55kgs (snatch).
And since then she has raised the bar (figuratively speaking!) to respective top totals of 72kgs and 59ks so it is small wonder that Simon Roach told us,
“We are delighted by the progress Helena has made in a relatively short time and she is a great example to newcomers that hard work, linked to a measure of skill, can really pay dividends in our sport.”
Helena has also enjoyed the likes of swimming and gymnastics when she was younger, gaining her badges in the pool at Haverfordwest from the age of four onwards and also attending the Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club, where she was coached by Rachel and Paul Hughes – and was Welsh Schools’ Vault Champion at nine years old.
Athletics followed after Helena had attended an open day at the Pembrokeshire Harriers with some school friends and after starting out trying sprints with Mark Richards before she developed an interest in hurdling under the watchful eye of Nigel Rowland and then high jump, where she was coached by Liz Rowland and eventually became Welsh Schools’ champion in her age category with a best jump of 1 metre 58 centimetres.
As if this wasn’t enough, Helena then started putting the shot and, not content with that little lot, was soon involved with the technically-demanding hammer throwing, where she has also had specialist training from Dai Arnold, the hammer coach from Neath. He has been helping her develop from three to four spins in the circle whilst trying to maintain consistency at the release point (so the hammer doesn’t hit the protective surround cage) – and at the moment her personal best is around 41.42 metres.
Whilst she was in university Helena continued her athletics for the first two years with regard to sprinting and high jump, but couldn’t work at her hammer throwing because there was no qualified coach there – and they didn’t want her to damage the football pitches there!
“So I joined the Trampolining Society in my third year and enjoyed another challenging new sport, where I wasn’t afraid of height but was definitely wary of falling off the side of the trampoline!
“My muscle memory from gymnastics certainly helped and by the time I left I could manage a straight-back forward somersault, tucked back and forward somersaults amongst other things, and I’m sure it will hold me in good stead when I return to athletics.”
Her coaches at Pembrokeshire Harriers are hoping that the warm summer weather will see Helena return to athletics because she is not only a good performer but they believe she has other things to off the club.
Nigel Rowlands told us,
“Helena is a more than capable competitor in so many events and we always hold her up as a prime example of the need for newcomers to try a whole range of different disciplines before specialising.
“She is also excellent at giving advice to younger members and it would be terrific to see her becoming a coach when she is ready.”
Nigel’s wife Liz added,
“Helena is a lovely young person who is ever-ready to listen to advice in her quest for excellence and her enthusiasm can lift others who are starting out or a little less committed.
We are really looking forward to her return because she is an asset to the club.”
High praise indeed from two knowledgeable coaches who recognise what Helena has to offer athletics!
But in the meanwhile it is weight-lifting that is currently occupying Helena’s spare time and she is quick to acknowledge the support of her parents and sister Anita.
“I just want to keep improving and just do me very best, as well as enjoying the friendships I have made from sport,” admitted Helena, “because I have gained so much from them all.”
What Helena Madan doesn’t mention are the qualities that she brings to them all – and we sincerely hope that this modest young lady will continue to shine in all that she does!
Courtesy of: Milford Mercury