It was 2 weeks before one of the biggest and most important trips in my life to the Junior World Championships in Kazan, Russia. I was having numerous problems with my body, which prevented me from performing the Olympic lifts. I was trying extremely hard not to worry about it, not think about how my injury would affect my competition, which was very hard for me because I am a perfectionist. As...
My best friend and older sister, Kia, had taken a year off from weightlifting because she had badly injured her hip. She was told that she had to immediately stop lifting or risk developing further debilitating injury. I was devastated when I heard this, Kia is my rock, she is the person I go to and connect with on numerous levels about the highs and lows of the sport. I could not imagine not...
The Toronto Pro Supershow is held every year on the first weekend of June. I was not very excited to lift in this year’s Supershow because I had competed just two weeks before in the Canadian Senior Championships. I felt that I needed a longer rest period. It turned out that I didn’t because I made three personal bests! One in snatch, 87kg and one in clean and jerk, 107kg raising my...
I was first drug tested at the Canadian Senior Weightlifting Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was an interesting experience. Right after I had won my gold medal in 75kg weight class, a woman approached me like I was being arrested. She stated, with a poker face and in a stern voice that I “was randomly chosen for drug testing”. Still frustrated, annoyed and dealing with the fact that...
How do you feel about saunas? Not sure, well let me tell you how I feel about them. Saunas are the worst creation invented by man. They are dangerously humid, extremely uncomfortable, and scathingly hot! I do not understand how people can go to saunas and “relax”. Believe me, I was far from relaxed. Both my father and my coach, Hani Kanama, had decided it would be a great idea for me to attend...
Training today was a stressful day. It seems like my snatch technique is not developing as fast as I would like it to. My coach was on me about it this morning, which made it even more stressful. The weight felt heavier than usual and I wasn’t as sharp as I usually am. I felt well rested when I woke, but for some reason I am just off my game this week….I wonder what it might be. I am trying my...
