Ashley wins silver in Aus debut
Kolomoisky, who shifted from gymnastics to weightlifting only a few years ago, lifted 67kg in the snatch and 87kg in the clean & jerk (CJ), to record a total of 154kg.
Proud, surprised and a little shocked – but in a good way – was how rising young weightlifter Ashley Kolomoisky felt after setting PBs and Victorian age records to win a silver medal overseas in her debut for Australia.
The Jewish Melburnian, who recently turned 17, came second in the women’s youth under-59kg competition at the 2023 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, held in Delhi from July 11-16.
Even better, her mum, Svetlana, was there to witness the moment.
Kolomoisky, who shifted from gymnastics to weightlifting only a few years ago, lifted 67kg in the snatch and 87kg in the clean & jerk (CJ), to record a total of 154kg.
She set new Victorian junior and youth category records for CJ and for total.
India’s Harika B totalled 172kg to claim gold, Australian Chloe Saliba (151kg) earned bronze, Canada’s Makenna Smith was fourth and Sri Lankan Laksarani R.L.S.R. was fifth.
“It was kind of insane and very exciting,” Kolomoisky told The AJN upon returning home on Tuesday, “because it was my first international competition”.
“And getting the 87kg PB lift in the clean & jerk was a shock.”
She said the keys to her success were “just trusting in the Australian coaches’ advice, as they have so much experience”.
“I also felt that my lifts at training were progressively
getting better.”
Kolomoisky wasn’t distracted by the big occasion either.
“I really do love competing, so I just enjoyed it.”
Kolomoisky and fellow Jewish teen weightlifter Layla Bloom were both named last week in the Australian squad for the Oceania Championships in Samoa in October.
They’ll be in action next at the nationals in Melbourne from August 4-6.
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