Weightlifting - Rick Confiance, Clementina Agricole the best of 2014 |26 December 2014

Despite the sport not being as active as it was last year when the athletes had various international platforms on which to impress and ultimately clinch three out of four overall awards at the annual sports awards, weightlifting remains one of Seychelles’ top sport disciplines.

This year’s awardees have remained unchanged from last year as the best four weightlifters have retained their titles.

Rick Confiance is once again the male weightlifter of the year after a year where he won the local Open Championship with a performance of 227kg (102kg in snatch and 125kg in clean & jerk). He also finished in 16th place at the 2014 Commonwealth Games with a total of 231kg (106kg in snatch and 125kg in clean & jerk).

On the women’s side, it is once again Clementina Agricole who has emerged as the best, finishing first in the Open Championship with a total of 200kg (85kg in snatch and 115kg in clean & jerk) to improve the record by 18kg. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Agricole registered an Olympic total of 199kg (88kg in snatch and 111kg in clean & jerk) to achieve the worst position – fourth place – thus missing out on a medal.

For the younger lifters, it was Dereck Come who finished as the top male athlete after collecting a win at the Open Championship with a total of 220kg. He also had an eighth place finish at the African Junior Championship with a total lift of 195kg.

Romentha Larue remains the young female weightlifter of the year after winning the Open Championship with a 130kg total. She also competed in three international competitions, finishing fifth at the African Youth Championship with 123kg, fourth at the Youth Games in Botswana with 120kg and ninth at the Youth Olympic Games with the same total.

The coach of the year title has been won by Reginald Estro, while Robert Rose is the official of the year.

S. N.