African Weightlifting Championship in Morocco-Eleven medals and one Seychelles record |04 September 2006
A total of 11 medals – three gold, seven silver and one bronze – were won by the local contingent who succeeded in bringing home more honours won on this prestigious platform.
Two-time former Sportslady of the Year Janet Thélermont won the three gold medals to defend her 69-kg title won last year in Uganda. Hampered by an injury in her right leg and pain in her lower back, the 27-year-old decided to do just two of the three authorised lifts in the two events, lifting 85kg in snatch and 105kg in clean-and-jerk for an Olympic total of 190kg.
Moroccan Wafa Ammouri won the silver medal with lifts of 65kg in snatch and 95kg in clean-and-jerk. Algerian Ouahida Abdelmalek settled for the bronze medals with 60kg in snatch and 80kg in clean-and-jerk.
Competing in the junior and senior category of the 58-kg weight division, Clementina Agricole grabbed six of the seven silver medals – three in each category - with performances of 70kg in snatch and 95kg in clean-and-jerk for an Olympic total of 165kg.
Despite not winning a gold medal in Casablanca, Agricole, 18, improved the Seychelles 58-kg clean-and-jerk record by heaving a load of 95kg to add 2.5kg to former Sportslady of the Year Sophia Vandagne’s old record of 92.5kg set during the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000.
Tunisian Jebali Thounya was too strong for her opponents with powerful lifts of 80kg in snatch and 105kg in clean-and-jerk for an Olympic total of 185kg, while Moroccan Safa Bahraoui won the bronze medals with a Olympic total of 80kg (35kg in snatch and 45kg in clean-and-jerk).
Runner-up to Sportsman of the Year 2005 Allan Julie, Charles Siméon knew before leaving for Casablanca that he was going to have a battle on his hands to win medals in the 77-kg with eight top quality lifters in the race for the gold medals.
After snatching 110kg for fifth position, Siméon lifted the bar loaded at 147kg in the clean-and-jerk for the silver medal and third place (bronze medal) overall with an Olympic total of 257kg.
On the medals podium, Siméon, 24, was joined by two Libyan lifters – gold medallist Reda Milab Sayeb (Olympic total of 285kg – 125kg in snatch and 160kg in clean-and-jerk) and Elhami Shredi (Olympic total of 262kg – 117kg in snatch and 145kg in clean-and-jerk).
Janet Thélermont: “I’m satisfied with my three gold medals won because I wasn’t a 100% fit. The most important thing for me was to defend my three gold medals won last year. I did it and I’m happy with myself for having competed fearlessly when carrying two injuries.”
Charles Siméon: “Wining two medals – a silver and a bronze – is a satisfactory result for me as I competed alongside seven quality lifters. I couldn’t push myself to the limit to try and improve my Seychelles records as I’m carrying a back injury.”
Clementina Agricole: “I’m happy with my performance. I won six silver medals and broke a Seychelles record in the process. Tunisian Jebali Thounya was too strong.”
G. G.