Earlier today, the 2017 Fittest Woman On EarthTM Tia-Clair Toomey walked away with a gold in the 58kg weight class at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Toomey finished her performance with a personal best 87kg snatch and a 114kg clean & jerk, which earned her a 201kg total.
Throughout most of the competition, Canadian weightlifter Tali Darsigny was ahead of Toomey by 1kg. In the snatch, she hit 88kg, and ended up finishing with a PR 112kg clean & jerk, giving her a 200kg total. It appeared she had the gold until Toomey called for her final 114kg clean & jerk, which would edge Darsigny out by 1kg and award her the silver medal.
You may have already seen the tragic news story floating around, but if you haven't, a little over a week ago Toomey's teenage cousin tragically passed away in a car crash in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Toomey's cousin, Jade Dixson, was one of three who passed in the crash, and had planned to come watch and support Toomey at the Games.
Leading up to and at the Games, Toomey told Australian media outlets, "This is for her," "lifting for her...she'll be on my side" and "I'll have her in my heart come game day."
Yesterday, in Toomey's latest Instagram video she wrote, "Last session before I hit the platform tomorrow night and I'm so excited. Representing my country on the world stage is truly an honour and something I have worked so hard for. Thank-you so much for all the ongoing support and I hope I do you all proud. This is for you Jadey!"
Toomey's weightlifting and CrossFit careers have both hit new heights over the past two years. Toomey also represented Australia in weightlifting at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sanjita Chanu wins her 2nd successive Commonwealth Games gold medal
Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham won India's second Gold in weightlifting after a successful start from Mirabai Chanu and Gururaja on Day 1 of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
Sanjita bagged Gold in women's 53kg weightlifting category on Friday to kick start India's day at the Carrara Sports Arena 1 on Friday.
She put a total of 192kg to beat second-placed Loa Dika Toua (182kg) of Papua New Guinea and third-placed Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet of Canada (181kg) in her category.
Sanjita managed 84kgs in snatch and then went on to record 108kg in clean and jerk.
Sanjita's third snatch lift of 84kg is also a Commonwealth Games record in the category. She started off with a bang, lifting 81kg and then followed it up with a 83kg lift before nailing 84 in her final attempt.
In the clean and jerk attempt, she started off with a 104kg lift and then followed it up with a 108kg effort. She failed in her final attempt of 112kg, which gave her some nervous moments for sure as Toua went all out with a 113kg try but the PNG women lost -- this ensuing back to back golds for the Manipuri.
The 24-year-old has been one of India's brightest prospects for India going into the Commonwealth Games this year. In the Glasgow Games in 2014, she won Gold in women's 48kg category. The girl from Manipur won with a total lift of 173 kg (77+96) back in 2014.
This is now India's third medal in this year's Commonwealth Games. Earlier, Mirabai Chanu and P Gururaja brought cheers to the whole nation as they claimed gold and silver medals respectively to give India a good start in the Commonwealth Games.
Chanu stood at the top of the podium as the Indian national anthem played for the first time in this year's CWG while a perseverant Gururaja settled for a silver medal.
Chanu smashed the CWG record with every lift and even broke her personal record and remained in a league of her own. She received a thunderous applause from the Australian fans, who queued up to take her autograph after the medal ceremony. Chanu managed to lift 196kg (86kg+110kg) in a remarkable effort.
Gururaja's path was less rosy. He survived a few anxious moments after two failed attempts in clean and jerk to claim a silver medal.
The 25-year-old son of a truck driver equalled his personal best of 249kg (111kg+138kg) to finish second in the event and ensure that India woke up to the news of a medal on the very first day of competitions.