Sports day gets girls in to weightlifting

ON reflection, what a great lift! Morgan Dunne, aged 13, in action

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

OLDHAM youngsters raised the bar when they took part in I Am Team GB's sports day on Saturday.

Members of the female-only weightlifting for ages 13 plus at Mahdlo Youth Zone took part in the sports day which celebrated the recent Rio Olympics and encouraged sporting activities.

The session involves practice of and training for Olympic weightlifting and is designed to work on fitness and flexibility whilst reaching out to girls who may not otherwise get involved in sports.

Leanne Livsey, the Mahdlo fitness instructor who runs the sessions, said: "We have had a bit of a struggle trying to get it going because there is a stigma around weightlifting that it is only for big people but we're trying to stop that.

"It is something different, the kids quite like doing it, we did a weightlifting event last month and that got some awareness for it.

"This sport is a combination of everything you need for any sport and creates a foundation for any sport.

"It is an Olympic sport and it helps to get people in the area active."

The sessions are designed to work on technique rather then strength and focus on creating a foundation of fitness for the children.

Leanne added: "With this we do not let them do the full lift, we do not let them go heavy with the weights, we work on building core fitness and building flexibility and technique which is more important than sheer strength.

"If you don't have the flexibility you can't get the weight up and over your head.

"Some have a natural take to it but then some need to work on it more."

She said: "For Team GB it is a grassroots sport and it builds a foundation for girls to get involved.

"It is important to get them involved, as we know, girls participation is very low at the moment."

The female 13 plus weightlifting runs from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Saturdays at the Mahdlo Youth Zone in the town centre and anyone interested is urged to attend.