The recent floods may have wreaked havoc with Rebekah Tiler’s training plans but the young weightlifter is adamant that won’t stop her walking away victorious from this weekend’s English Championships.
As a European Youth champion and World Junior medallist, Tiler has marked herself out as a future star in the sport and will deservedly be one of the favourites in the women’s 69kg category in Manchester this weekend.
But the 17-year-old’s preparations to win a first English title have suffered with her training base at Mytholmroyd Community Centre flooded, forcing a move to nearby Crossfit Boudicca in Sowerby Bridge.
While such upheaval would throw many athletes off their game, Tiler appears to have taken it all in her stride and is raring to go for the English Championships.
“Recently I’ve lost my gym due to the floods, so training has been a bit messed up,” explained Tiler.
“My gym is a Community Centre in Mytholmroyd near Hebden Bridge where I have my own room. Recently it got flooded, so all our stuff has been destroyed and the equipment ruined.
“Luckily my coach knows someone who owns a gym called Crossfit Boudicca which is local to where I live, so I’ve been training there which has been alright.
“Obviously it’s not good that my normal gym has been destroyed but I’ve been trying to keep my focus and it’s going well.
“I’m feeling really good and while the big competition for me is the European Championships in April, this weekend will be good preparation to build towards that.”
The European Weightlifting Championships will take place in Norway from April 10-16 with the competition providing the last opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio.
Understandably, making it to Rio is the main focus for Tiler this year and the English Championships should be the perfect way to launch her 2016 campaign.
And the teenager, who is British record holder for the clean and jerk, is eyeing personal bests in Manchester, as well as walking away with the trophy.
“I want to break some more records this weekend – that is my aim. I’m focusing on myself this weekend, I’m not worried about the competition,” added Tiler.
“This will be my first English Champs because last year I injured my knee and the year before that I was away on holiday, so it should be good.
“It would be great to be English champion and this is probably the one I want to win most this year after Rio and the Europeans in April.”
Sportsbeat 2016