Five-strong weightlifting team prepare for action in Bendigo
26th November 2004England take a five-strong weightlifting team to Australia to compete at the Bendigo 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Team England lifters will be among more than 50 weightlifters from 15 countries competing at the Games.
Among England's medal hopes are the two women lifters in the team - Sheffield's Rebecca Heard, aged 18, who is ranked sixth woman lifter in the British senior rankings, and her team-mate in Bendigo, 18-year-old Amy Eastmond from Devon, who is ranked ninth.
England's lifters have a hard act to follow in Bendigo after the six-strong team returned from the Edinburgh 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games with an impressive haul of one gold medal and eight silvers.
The full England weightlifting team for Bendigo is:
| Amy Eastmond | (24.09.86) | Ivybridge, Devon |
| James Hartley | (29.10.86) | Manchester |
| Rebecca Heard | (09.09.86) | Sheffield |
| Andreas Michaelas | (23.01.88) | Radcliffe, Greater Manchester |
| Dane Wilson | (20.08.87) | Manchester |
The weightlifting programme at Bendigo 2004 takes place over two days, starting on Wednesday 1st December and concluding the following day. There are eight weight divisions for men and seven for women.
Team England is taking an 86-strong squad of athletes to Bendigo in Australia to compete in nine sports at the second Commonwealth Youth Games, which take place from 30th November to 3rd December.
The Commonwealth Youth Games were devised to give young athletes an opportunity to experience a major multi-sports Games.
England topped the medal table at the Edinburgh 2000 Games with 36 golds, 41 silvers and 18 bronzes. Australia tied with England on golds, but had fewer silvers.