Commonwealth Games: Phillipa Patterson plans second baby after finishing sixth in weightlifting

Phillipa Patterson of New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

Glasgow to the Gold Coast has been a hectic four-year ride for Phillipa Patterson, and with plans for a second baby, this may be her last Commonwealth Games.

Since finishing fifth in the same 53kg class in Glasgow, Patterson married weightlifting husband Richie, welcomed two-year-old son Cooper, ran a gym on Auckland's North Shore and trained for her second Commonwealth Games.

She deserves a medal just for surviving such a schedule.

While Patterson left the Carrara Sports & Leisure Centre stage on Friday without such a symbol of success around her neck, other than one failed snatch attempt she was satisfied with the 171kg total which placed her sixth in a field of 14.

"It's where I expected to be. I was a little bit disappointed to miss one of my snatches but that's how it goes," Patterson said after her 76kg snatch and 95kg clean and jerk. "I lifted where I was at and you can't ask for more."

Richie, gold medalist from Glasgow, supported throughout Phillipa's events; the pair embracing at the conclusion.

In his fourth Games, Richie steps up to the bar in the 85kg class on Saturday.

"We have very busy lives," Phillipa said. "We own a business, look after Cooper and then try and get some training in. Richie is up tomorrow and everybody is excited."

Patterson was a gymnast from the age of five to 14 before turning to cross fit and meeting Richie.

The 33-year-old's competitive weightlifting future now appears uncertain. Asked about future plans, she said: "Maybe baby number two."

Continuing to train twice a day, five times each week, could be a stretch with two children to take care of.

Finishing 21kg off gold and 10kg from bronze here, Patterson watched India's Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham set a Games record of 84kg in the snatch and comfortably claim gold with her 192kg total.

Defending champion Loa Dika Toua (182kg total) collected silver, Papua New Guinea's 12th Games medal in history, while Canada's Rachel Leblanc Bazinet settled for bronze.

In the men's 69kg class, Vester Villalon did not finish after failing to complete three attempted clean and jerks at 145kg.

Alethea Boon competes in her under 58kg final later tonight.