Weightlifting: Taylor's promise confirmed at nationals

Rory Taylor came third at the National Olympic Weightlifting Championships. Photo/Thinkstock.

A rapidly-improving Whangarei weightlifter has continued his rise through the ranks by coming third in the 94kg class at the National Olympic Weightlifting Championships in Christchurch.

Rory Taylor, 23, said the result was a surprise after having only just taken up the sport after doing CrossFit.

"[I was] doing CrossFit for fitness purposes, just trying to get into shape," he said. "The level of competition was pretty high and I was lucky enough to do some training with Richard Patterson so he was my coach for the weekend.

"There were so many learnings, it was just such a different stage of competing. I think it was just remembering the technique and trying to keep my nerves under control."

Taylor, a member of the Northland Olympic Weightlifting Club, lifted 115kg in the snatch and 138kg in the clean and jerk at the October nationals. He said looking ahead he just hoped to continue training and, if he could compete also, then he would.

"The thing with weightlifting is you have to be training if you want to be competing. There's no real slowing down."

Taylor said: "I'll just keep progressing, because I'm so new in the sport, I've got so much to learn."

Northland Weightlifting Club secretary Jacob Lawson said Taylor had made swift strides in a short period.

"He started dabbling in weight training a year ago and started doing intensive work about six months ago.

"Within eight months, he has gone from a 90kg clean, that wasn't pretty, to doing 150kg on a training day."

Taylor's natural speed and strength meant there was more improvement to come.

"He's young and, with the gain he's had in the last few months, he'll definitely become a good weightlifter in his class."