CAMDEN Haven weightlifting sensation Madeline Letchford is just 16 years old, but she’s already got her sights set on qualifying for Australia’s Commonwealth Games team.
She recently attended the National Junior Weightlifting Championships in Melbourne, lining up against competitors from around the country.
The Year 10 St Joseph’s Regional College student competed in the 69kg 16–17-year-old Junior Division and took home a bronze medal, with a mere 2kg difference between second and third place.
She’s coached by her mother Vivienne Bean, of North Brother gym, who attributes her daughter’s success to hard work, consistency and grit.
“Maddy is working intensively on increasing her lift from 125kgs to 169kgs to qualify her for the Australian International team,” Ms Bean told News Of The Area.
“We’re fortunate that our family and the gym community have been incredibly supportive of her goals.”
Maintaining competition weight requires Madeline to follow a high-protein and complex carbohydrate diet in the lead-up, with all competitors weighed on the morning of the event.
To reach the National competition, she had to lift 116kg in two separate qualifying heats.
Competing against nine other girls, she took third place with a 125kg lift.
With a daily training regime encompassing lifting, strength work and CrossFit classes, Madeline is ranked in the top 400 teenage athletes worldwide in the 2026 CrossFit Games.
By Rachael THORPE
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