31 July 2013 Raising ambitions for Lincoln University weightlifter

The 2014 Commonwealth Games are a step closer for Lincoln University Sports Scholarship student and weightlifter, Saxon Gregory-Hunt, after winning both the Junior and Senior Under 85kg titles at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Brisbane.

Saxon, who is studying a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management degree at Lincoln University, always had his eye on the Junior title, but, once the tournament was underway, soon realised that he might be capable of grabbing the Senior title as well.

“After the snatch session I was 1kg and 11kgs up on my nearest competitors, with the clean and jerk session to come. I managed to keep my 1kg advantage on the first competitor, with the second competitor needing to lift 173kgs from just one final attempt. He didn’t manage it, and so I won the Senior division as well,” says Saxon.

A real confidence booster for Saxon, he now has his eye on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games as his next goal.

“Once I’ve achieved qualification, I’d then like to turn the focus of my training towards securing a medal. I’m not too fussed about the colour to be honest: just a medal at this stage. After that, who knows? Maybe the Olympics?”

Saxon has been weightlifting now for five years and trains 11 times a week, with each session lasting approximately two hours. As well as his titles at the Oceania Championships, he was placed ninth in the Junior Worlds Championship for the Under 85kg category held recently in Lima, Peru.

Although keen to see where his weightlifting career can take him, since enrolling in his degree at Lincoln University, his mind has begun to turn to the possibility of other opportunities as well.

“Although weightlifting was always my number one focus, I started the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management degree as a means of making constructive use of the time between training sessions. However, I’m now in the third year of my degree and my focus has shifted a little. I realise I won’t be weightlifting for ever, and so the degree has opened my mind to commercial opportunities in the sport and recreation industry as well,” says Saxon.

Saxon holds a Sports Scholarship at Lincoln University which covers his tuition fees, and provides him with training facilities and sports science services.

“The Sports Scholarship at Lincoln has been very helpful. Just for starters, having the tuition fees covered means I can put my financial resources into my training and associated travel.”