Tauranga weightlifter making a big impression

DEDICATION: Tauranga weightlifter Sachiko Kawakami training for the Masters Games. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN

Japanese-born Sachiko Kawakami lights up the gyms in Tauranga.

Sachiko, 47, is perfecting her Olympic weightlifting technique five days a week at The Athlete Factory in Mount Maunganui and at the Aspire Health and Sports Club in Bethlehem.

Sachiko, who is a registered psychologist, is planning to lift even better and collect a gold medal in the 45-49 age category at the World Masters Games in the Auckland Millennium Centre this April. The competition also doubles as the International Weightlifting Federation's Masters championships.

"She is a bit of an inspiration to the guys who train here," her coach, Keepa Mewett, said.
"They always notice how small she is and are amazed by her technique and the weights she puts up.

"Sachiko is stronger than some of those guys. She has zero fat on her, she has great mobility and is very clinical in terms of technique. If you don't have good technique, then there's no chance of getting the weight off the ground."

Sachiko began taking Olympic weightlifting seriously just 15 months ago, and is No 1 in the New Zealand open women rankings for the 48kg division and sixth in the 53kg division.

She has personal-best lifts of 51kg for the snatch and 59kg for the clean and jerk in the 48kg category, and 51kg and 62kg for the 53kg division.

If I can lift, anyone can do it. It all happened for me after the age of 45. If you think it is hard, then that's a good reason to try.

Sachiko Kawakami

"I knew the Games were coming up when I moved to weightlifting and I set it as one of my goals,' Sachiko said.

"Sport in the Western society focuses on youth, but age doesn't matter. The [World Masters] Games gives the opportunity for older athletes to compete. I'm excited about it."

Sachiko first participated in CrossFit for three and a half years and found weightlifting the most exhilarating.

"I saw the potential and just focused on weightlifting. When I took my age and body weight into consideration, I was doing well.

"But I had to really master the technique because I don't have the same strength as Western people. My New Year's resolution is to do more training and practice and maybe I can improve my record at the time of the World Masters Games.

"Weightlifting is a mental game rather than physical. The challenge is not the lifting but acknowledging your feelings and frustrations to compete at your true potential."

Sachiko first visited New Zealand in 1991.

"I found the Kiwis friendly and the nature beautiful, and I always wanted to come back." She worked in a furniture factory in Waimate and when that closed down she moved to Christchurch before arriving in Tauranga in 2006.

She now operates her own private practice as a health psychologist in Tauranga - her professional knowledge helping her to master the art of weightlifting.

"If I can lift, anyone can do it," she says. "It all happened for me after the age of 45. If you think it is hard, then that's a good reason to try. Lifting can be inspiring."