Denholme’s Rebekah Tiler had a slightly disappointing evening in the World Weightlifting Championships in the United States.
The 16-year-old Calderdale College student had hoped to finish in the top ten in the 63kg women’s category overnight in Houston but only completed two of her six lifts in coming 13th in what was admittedly a stellar field.
Rebekah, who has dropped down a weight category for this global event, failed on her first attempt at 93kg in the snatch but, after words from her club coach and national coach Eddie Halstead, breezed it at the second attempt, shaking her head and smiling as if to say ‘Why didn’t I do that first time around?’
However, the teenager then could not lift 96kg, leaving her 17th out of 20 in her group prior to the clean and jerk.
Here the former Bingley Grammar School pupil upped her initial weight from 116kg to 118kg and, after a good first attempt, then failed at 121kg and 122kg.
Rebekah’s compatriot Zoe Smith fared better, setting a personal best of 97kg in the snatch and following it up with a British record 120kg in the clean and jerk to come ninth with a British record total of 221kg.
That puts the 21-year-old in pole position to qualify for the Rio Olympics next year, although she is likely to go head to head again with Rebekah next April in the European Championships.
Smith said: “I’m thrilled to have achieved new British records in Houston, especially leading into such an important Olympic year.
“I have felt in great form for a while and with a top-10 finish here, I’m ending the year on a real high and head towards Rio full of confidence and optimism.”
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Michaela Breeze, who was commentating for Eurosport and whose records Smith broke, said: “We definitely expected more of Rebekah but it was not to be, not today.
“But for a 16-year-old to be competing in the A Group of a World Championships is a feat in itself and we are going to see more of her.
“She will learn a lot of lessons from this and come back stronger.”
Tommy Yule, British Weight Lifting performance director, said: “For Zoe to achieve a top 10 finish, and compete with such confidence alongside the world’s best at 63kg is a huge boost heading into an Olympic year.
“She has responded excellently and fully embraced the domestic challenge posed by Rebekah, who herself continues to go from strength-to-strength.
“Having achieved so much already on the platform, it is easy to forget that Rebekah is only 16 years of age. To be lifting at this level internationally already is hugely impressive and will prove invaluable to her development.”
Leeds-based British Weight Lifting cheif executive officer Ashley Metcalfe said: “To have two British athletes qualify for the same top-ranked category in what will be one of the biggest World Championships to date was a fantastic achievement for British Weight Lifting and paid testament to both the lifters and the structures we currently have in place.
“Zoe and Rebekah are reaping the rewards of UK Sport funding and the World-Class Programme by training fastidiously and improving constantly; we look forward to 2016 with great optimism for both.”
China’s Deng Wei retained her title with 259kg (113kg snatch, 146kg clean and jerk), with Russia’s Tima Turieva, world champion in 2013, taking silver with 248kg (112kg, 136kg) and Korea’s Choe Hyo Sim, Asian Games winner last year, bronze with 243kg (104kg, 139kg).
Courtesy of: Telegraph & Argus