Yates wins world masters title
That commitment began to pay off in June when she came first in the women's 45-49 over-84kg bodyweight division at the 2024 Oceania championships.
From a year that began for Leora Yates with her gym business in North Caulfield being destroyed by fire, it is fortunately finishing not just with a silver lining, but a golden one.
Despite the mental and emotional toll involved in successfully opening her new gym, Strong Bayside, the 48-year-old still persevered with training with her coach at Hawthorn Weightlifting Club, Simon Francazio.
That commitment began to pay off in June when she came first in the women’s 45-49 over-84kg bodyweight division at the 2024 Oceania championships.
And last weekend, in Suva, Fiji, it paid off again, when Yates (pictured with her medal) won gold at the 2024 United Masters World Weightlifting Championships in the women’s 45-and-over age category in the under-87kg bodyweight division, with a best snatch attempt of 71, and 86 in the clean and jerk.
She also came second in that division’s open age women’s field, which was won by 36-year-old American Annirose Womack.
“I lost my two gold world championships medals in the gym fire in January, so this one means a lot!” Yates commented.
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