Seychellois lifters return from African Senior Weightlifting Championship |22 July 2017

Triple African gold medallist Agricole sets eye on Commonwealth Games gold medal

Clementina Agricole and Brenda Lozaique, Seychelles’ medallists at the African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius last week, returned home on Thursday night on board a regular Air Seychelles flight.

New African champion Agricole was all smiles as her three gold medals dangled around her neck. It was in fact her first senior African title and as a result, she has qualified for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia next year.

Agricole, Lozaique and their three male colleagues were met on arrival at the Seychelles International Airport by the Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Mitcy Larue and National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau.

Mrs Larue presented three-time gold medallist Agricole with her hamper, while Ms Rousseau handed a hamper to Lozaique who won three bronze medals in the 75kg weight category.

Agricole was also warmly welcomed by her family members, presenting her with flowers on her accomplishment.

An emotional Agricole said that despite some difficulties encountered with the Seychelles Weightlifting Federation, she was able to put her worries behind her and was determined to give Seychelles and those who supported her the gold medals.

“Even though I am not on good terms with the federation, I would like to thank them, coach Dixie (William) and coach Henriette (MacDonald) and even the chairman (Robert Rose). We have done well for Seychelles,” said Agricole.

She added that she was not totally confident at the beginning of the competition because “even though I am an experienced athlete I felt very afraid when I was competing and this is due to the problems I had encountered. I was very afraid but after lifting my first attempt I really submerged myself into what I had to do as I did not want to let down the people who have supported me”.

As she was the first to start the competition, Agricole described the competition as “tough as my opponents kept me in check, but I made sure I lifted the bar on all my attempts”.

Having qualified for the Commonwealth Games next year, Agricole has said she will have to work harder in training and she hopes to go on a training camp prior to the Games.

“I am hungry for the Commonwealth Games gold medal,” said Agricole who has also thanked the National Sports Council, her trainer Zala Hander and all those who have supported her to win the gold medals.

Three-time bronze medallist Lozaique also said she was afraid at the start of the competition which was very tough and also because she was not feeling well.

“There was supposed to be five competitors in my category but with only three, I was guaranteed the bronze medals, but I had to make sure that I lift my first attempt,” she said.

NSC chief executive Rousseau said she was happy that weightlifting, especially through the performance of Clementina Agricole, has made Seychelles proud.

“I think Clementina should be taken as a role model to motivate not only athletes but other people in life, considering the fact that she came back after needing surgery to remove a tumour from her brain. And now, she is the African champion. It takes a lot and I want to thank her for making us proud,” said Ms Rousseau.

She added that the NSC will do everything to help Agricole on her wish to train overseas to accomplish her Commonwealth Games dream.

The three other male lifters were Dereck Come, Angelo Servina and Hansel Bristol. They were accompanied by national coach William Dixie, assistant coach MacDonald Henriette and referee/judge Pierre Dixie.

Competing against five lifters, two-time former Sportswoman of the year Agricole fought hard to brace off the stiff challenge of three-time silver medalist Ghofran Belhir of Tunisia whom she beat by 1kg in both events. Agricole lifted 86kg in snatch and 107kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 193kg while her closest challenger Belhir who had to settled for the silver medal for the fourth time after lifting 85kg in snatch and 106kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 191kg.

The three bronze medals went to another Tunisian Yosra Adbidi who lifted 76kg in snatch and 105kg in clean and jerk for an Olympic total of 181kg. Also competing in the 63kg category were an Algerian and a Malagasy.

With only three lifters in the 75kg weight category, Brenda Lozaique took the last spot for three bronze medals with 55kg in snatch and 70kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 125kg. The three gold medals went to Algerian Maghnia Hammadi with 74kg in snatch and 95kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 169kg. Mauritian Alison Sunee won the three silver medals with 71kg in snatch and 80kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 151kg.

Dereck Come finished fourth in the men’s 105kg weight category with 117kg in snatch and 135kg in clean and jerk for an Olympic total of 252kg. Both Angelo Servina and Hansel Bristol were ranked sixth in their respective weight categories. In the 85kg weight category, Servina lifted 95kg in snatch and 125kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 220kg. In the 94kg weight category, Bristol snatched 90kg and cleaned & jerked 120kg for an Olympic total of 210kg.

P. J.