New Zealand Olympic Weightlifters Tracey Lambrechs (L) and Richie Patterson (R). Photo / Gettyimages
New Zealand Olympic Weightlifters Tracey Lambrechs (L) and Richie Patterson (R). Photo / Gettyimages
Tracey Lambrechs took her non-selection for the London Olympics hard, worked her socks off and yesterday got the ideal reward.
The Auckland weightlifter is off to Rio, along with fellow competitor Richie Patterson, having qualified through the Oceania champs in Fiji late last month.
Veteran Patterson will lift in the 85kg class, his third trip to the Olympics, equalling Don Oliver's New Zealand record for Games appearances. South African-born Lambrechs fulfils her ambition of an Olympics in the 75kg and over division.
Lambrechs lifted 240kg, her second biggest total, 2kg behind her New Zealand record, at the Oceanias. She attempted a 243kg record but "I just got a little too excited and messed it up".
"We're hitting personal bests in training and competition so that's really good."
Fifth and third at the last two Commonwealth Games, Lambrechs' plan for Rio is to get a New Zealand record but she admitted much of weightlifting comes down to how an athlete is feeling on the day of competition.
"We did a lot of work leading up to London and missing out there gave me a bit more motivation," Lam-brechs said. "This has been building since 2010. I'm over the moon, relieved and I know I deserve to be there."
Patterson, gold medallist in Glasgow two years ago, is chuffed at completing an Olympic hat-trick.
"I'm feeling very excited to once again be back on the Olympic platform, it is the pinnacle honour in the sport of Olympic weightlifting," Patterson said.
"I look forward to exceeding my own expectations and to provide inspiration for generations to come."
Patterson will compete on August 13 (NZT) and Lambrechs a day later.
Lambrechs lifts in the Women's +75kg Group A at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Photo / Gettyimages
Meanwhile, open water swimmer Kane Radford has been named for Rio, after going through an appeal process to the Sports Tribunal.
Radford was initially not nominated by Swimming New Zealand.
The tribunal, comprising QC Jim Farmer and double Olympic rowing champion Georgina Earl, took into account evidence provided by Radford's lawyer, former Commonwealth Games swimmer John Munro.
It was that Radford had been interfered with by an Israeli competitor on the finishing straight of the final qualifying event in Portugal.
At that point Radford was 10th, but lost about 15 seconds.
The top 10 finishers were given entry to the Rio race.
The other appeal to the tribunal by Charlotte Webby, also not nominated by SNZ, was rejected.
Radford becomes the 112th member of the New Zealand team for Rio.
Weighty issue
• The last time New Zealand had a male and female weightlifter going to an Olympics was Sydney in 2000, when Nigel Avery and Olivia Baker were selected.
• Richie Patterson will compete at his third Games, equalling the record of Don Oliver.
• Open water swimmer Kane Radford is off to Rio, having successfully appealed his non-nomination by Swimming New Zealand.
