Weightlifting: Baker on trail of historic super lift

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Olivia Baker struggled to bend down to pick a book up off the floor just a year ago.

Tonight, the New Zealand powerhouse will be hoisting 100kg above her head in her quest to make Olympic history.

Twenty-year-old Baker, of Wellington, is back from a crippling injury and is on the verge of becoming the first New Zealand woman to compete in weightlifting at the Olympics.

On the tiny tropical island nation of Nauru, a full contingent of Kiwi lifters will be working together today to help Baker to realise her dream.

The New Zealand women's team have to finish in the top three at the Oceania qualifying tournament to earn one place at the Sydney Games.

Baker is the obvious candidate for that spot. And if things do not go well in Nauru in the next two days, she could still earn a wildcard invitation to the Olympics through her top-15 world ranking.

It has been a difficult and frustrating 12 months getting to this point.

Last year, she stopped lifting for six months. She had started to get pain in her lower back that worsened until it became unbearable.

"It was a gradual injury. My specialist told me it had been building up for the last few years and the only thing I could do was stop," Baker said.

The frustration did not end there. Just as Baker had conquered the pain, she fell down some stairs and broke a foot.

With all her mishaps, Baker missed the junior world championships in Savannah - her last chance to compete at junior level. In 1997, she had won bronze in the superheavy class.

Life is rosier these days. She can comfortably play with the kids at school again, working with special needs children.

And as she toiled in the gym to lose weight and get fit, she says came out a better lifter for it all.

Ranked No 12 in the world, and No 1 in Oceania, Baker will be aiming to lift a total of 220kg this weekend.

The New Zealand men must finish in the top four to earn one Olympic spot.

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