Nicole Talbot is one of four Gloucestershire weightlifters competing at the Central Region Championships in Warley on Saturday.
The Gym66 athlete is currently ranked fourth in Britain in her first year of senior competition.
Vicki Reeve and Taliesha Stuart from CrossFit GC in Gloucester and Jess Tea from Trimnasium in Cheltenham are also taking part in an 11 strong, invitation only women’s field.
Talbot has already secured qualification for the 2016 English Championships at the end of next month, in which she finished second this year.
The 23-year-old can secure her place at the 2016 British Championships this weekend by lifting a total of 143kg in the two disciplines: snatch and clean and jerk.
Still a relative newcomer to the sport, Talbot’s ultimate aim is the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Saturday’s competition will see lifters judged on a ‘Sinclair’ system, a means to compare different weight classes in olympic weightlifting.
“It was a privilege to be invited to the Central Region Championships,” Talbot, who is coached by Sam Kennedy, said.
“I’ll be competing against the other Under-69kg category girls on total weight, but also all the other girls on Sinclair.
“I have been training solidly, lifting heavy four or five times a week and working through some injuries, but it’s all been about tapering for Saturday.”
Talbot works with Gloucester Wheelchair Rugby Club in partnership with Gloucester Rugby and the University of Gloucestershire. She is also studying part-time for a masters in sports development.
Once a month she trains with the GB regional squad in Coventry. Her current personal bests are 77kg for the snatch and 100kg for the clean and jerk.
“I love the training and I love the competition,” she said. “It’s a chance to make my coach and my parents proud and I want to see how far I can go in the sport.”
Courtesy of: Gloucestershire Echo