Saskatoon weightlifter taking steps towards Olympic dream at 14-years-old
Even when the temperature is -20 C, Olympic weightlifting hopeful Etta Love makes her way to the unheated makeshift gym that used to be her parents’ garage a year ago.
With a lifelong dream on the line, -20 C is nothing because she doesn’t take days off.
“For me, weightlifting, the reason I loved it was always the part where my mind felt the most peaceful,” Love said.
“It’s the thing that makes my anxiety go away. It’s the thing that makes me feel still, where I can just be.”
Love remembers watching her mom’s CrossFit workouts as a young child and she wanted to join in.
Once she got her hands around a barbell, she was hooked. By the time she was nine-years-old she was back squatting 45 kilograms (100 pounds) over her head.
Now, at 14-years-old, Love is the youngest member of the Canadian weightlifting team going to the Junior World Championships in Heraklion, Greece, in May.
“I love the sport, but I’m still working. These little accomplishments along the way – I can celebrate them, but they’re not the end goal,” Love said.
Love reached out to American Olympic Weightlifting Coach Aimee Anaya Everett as a sort of pipe dream to take her love of competing to the next level.
Everett accepted, and their relationship has been nothing but smooth since Everett joined up a year ago.
“I very much coach with my whole soul, and I think that is something people are drawn to and that she sees,” Everett said.
Everett lives in Oregon, more than 1,609 kilometres away, so getting the most out of Love as she trains in a freezing cold gym while talking to Everett through a computer screen is easier said than done.
“It’s inspiring to see someone at such a young age has the discipline, the will and the tenacity to go out in her garage by herself and work towards a goal of getting better and proving to her Canadian federation that she is a force to be reckoned with,” Everett said.
Deanne Freisen is the secretary-treasurer for the Canadian Weightlifting Federation. She feels Love has already proved a lot, given her extensive weightlifting experience for her age, albeit with little competitive experience.
“Certainly Etta’s got lots of potential in this sport,” Friesen said. “We’re really excited to have her on the team, so it’s super exciting to have her come and be part of this as her first big international competition,” Friesen said.
Love qualified for the team late last month in Ontario at the Canadian Invitational Tournament. The Saskatoon weightlifter completed a 95 kg snatch (lifting the barbell overhead in one motion), and also a 115 kg clean and jerk (lifting the barbell and pulling it to the shoulders, and then overhead). The combined weight of 210 kg landed her on the Canadian National Juniors team.
While Love is happy to show that young girls everywhere can one day be Olympic weightlifters, she’s slowly warming up to the idea of being a role model.
“That’s still something I’m getting used to,” Love said. “I’m used to being the fan girl. The people who I might be a role model for help inspire me.”
Love is also busy fundraising for her trip to Greece. She’s set up a GoFundMe page which is just over $500 short of reaching her $6,000 goal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
TD penalties expected to be higher on alleged drug money laundering link: analyst
A banking analyst says TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Western Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Drew Barrymore explains how she accidentally left a list of her romantic partners at Danny DeVito's house
Danny DeVito had the opportunity to know way more about Drew Barrymore than the rest of us.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.