PRESS RELEASE – Guam Weightlifting Federation National Team Athlete, Kimberly Taguacta will be traveling to Houston, Texas to represent Guam in the 2015 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships. Over 110 counties and over 750 athletes will fight for their right to represent their countries in the 2016 Olympic Games. This event will be the last of the Olympic qualifiers for weightlifting.
Kimberly Taguacta is the only Guam weightlifting athlete that has qualified for this event from Guam. Taguacta recently earned a Bronze in the Snatch event at the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea and also placed 1st in the GWF Friday Night Lift Off held on October 9, 2015.
In preparation for this competition, the GWF with the help of the Guam National Olympic Committee President, Mr. Ric Blas, has partnered with the Japan Weightlifting Association, as well as the Oceania Weightlifting Institute to provide elite level training for her.
GWF National Team Coaches Paul Claros and Edgar Molinos have been working closely with Taguata, “At this point all the hard work has been done. Now it’s just about mental preparation,’ says Coach Paul Claros. “This is a new journey for her and I want her to just enjoy the experience and to be happy to be representing Guam on such a big international stage.”
Coach Ed Molinos agreed with Claros saying, “Kim is ready! Her form, technique, flexibility and strength have all improved over the past months. The most outstanding thing about her aside from the fact that she pushes her body hard everyday is that she is very humble”.
At 21 years old, Taguacta will compete in the women’s 53kg weight division on November 21, 2015. If she does well, she may have the opportunity to be selected by the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and be given a wild card slot to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “I’ve learned so much about myself and how much my body is capable of,” she says.
“Sometimes I feel like my body can’t take anymore training but I remind myself of my goals. Once I start training again, after 5 minutes I don’t feel anymore pain and I’m able to lift heavier and move faster. I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity to lift with some of the best weight lifters in the world and I’m humbled by how much support I have from everyone”.
(AP/Carlos Osorio)
