Teenage weightlifter Tia Nacagilevu admits she really felt the mental pressure to perform at the Commonwealth Games.
On her return home, the Nelson teenager reflected on her fourth-place finish in the 86kg class in Glasgow.
“Everything went really well in the lead-up to the competition but there were a few technical things to fix. I definitely had put the work in, but it always comes down to what happens on the day. I was really disappointed on the day, but I guess I still walked away happy in the end but not satisfied,” declares Tia.
She was ranked second in the field and had she lifted up to her previous personal bests that could have produced a silver medal.
Tia was successful with two of her six lifts,103kgs with her second attempt in the snatch and 122kgs with her second clean and jerk lift for a combined total of 225kgs.
“The weightlifting team was happy for me. I had their support and from my sisters and dad back home. He was proud of me,” confirms Tia.
So was her mum Niva who was watching from the stands in Glasgow.
“I was anxious when she didn’t make her first lift so to complete the second was quite a relief. It was very so intense and very loud in the venue. The vibe was amazing. When the 103kgs came out, I was saying go up, go up. I was just relieved, really proud of her. She was amazing. All of those feelings,” enthuses Niva.
Dad Joni was watching from home and revealed it had been hard for his eldest daughter to keep at such a high level for so long.
Her Nelson coach Lester Keane adds it was a big stage to step on at such a young age.
“Tia had put in a lot of hard work, but it just didn’t pay off on the day. She does put a lot of pressure on herself, probably more than anybody else. Every day is a learning curve,” insists the former Commonwealth Games lifter.
Tia was very pleased to be home after almost two months away and prepared for the cold snap that greeted her.
“The weather in Glasgow was really bipolar.”
While she was ready to get back into training almost straight away Joni and Lester reckoned she deserved some time off before easing into her routine.
Her next goal is the World Weightlifting Championships in China in October, followed by an Olympic qualifier in Doha in December.
“I have time to make sure I lock in and focus on myself rather than worry about other things,” says Tia, who turns 19 next month.
Her younger siblings have plenty to focus on too with Tia lugging home a huge bag of official Commonwealth Games kit.
“Mum first though,” laughs Niva.
