A Nundah resident and seven-time gold medallist, Valerie-Ann Abbott, is setting her sights on turning a bronze into a gold medal at the upcoming Kettlebell World Championship in Milan, Italy.
Valerie-Ann is now preparing to represent Australia at the 2025 World Kettlebell Championship, which will be held from 5 to 8 June in Busto Arsizio, near Milan. The event, hosted by the World Kettlebell Sport Federation (WKSF), is expected to bring together top lifters from around the globe.
For Valerie-Ann, it marks not only another chance to compete on the world stage but also to build on the momentum of her gold-winning performance in Corfu last year.
She achieved significant success at the 2024 Kettlebell World Championship in Corfu, Greece, where she secured seven gold medals and one bronze. She holds the bronze medal from this competition in high regard, as it was earned during her first attempt in the ‘professional’ category.
Her current training is intensely focused on perfecting the 20kg Military Snatch and the two-arm long cycle, an exercise that combines a clean and jerk. This specific movement holds particular meaning for Valerie-Ann, as she was among the first female athletes globally to compete in this discipline. She shared that reintroducing this exercise into her training feels both nostalgic and empowering.
Australian Team Represents Grassroots Growth
Valerie-Ann is one of four athletes from Brisbane heading to Milan, joining 19 other members of the Australian team. Their participation highlights the considerable progress of the grassroots strength community for kettlebell sports in Australia. Despite individual training programmes and geographical distances, the team shares a strong sense of unity and pride.
Evolving Training Regimen
Since her success in Corfu last year, Valerie-Ann’s training approach has changed considerably. After nine years with her Scotland-based coach, she decided to seek a new perspective to further her development. Her new coach encourages her to complete full 10-minute sets regularly, a shift from her previous method of longer, less frequent sets. Additionally, accessory work is now a structured and vital part of her programme, rather than something she tries to fit in. Her main goals are to improve her strength, resilience, consistency, and balance.
Valerie-Ann is currently on a short career break from her role as a Product Lead, which has given her a unique opportunity to focus entirely on her training. She stated that over the past four months, her lifting volume has almost doubled, and the extra time has allowed her to pay proper attention to four different lifts, improving both her technique and endurance.
Local Kettlebell Scene Flourishes
The kettlebell sport in Brisbane, along with other Queensland areas like the Gold Coast and Airlie Beach, is experiencing consistent and organic growth in interest. Valerie-Ann has observed many new talents and younger participants joining the sport recently.
The youngest Queensland athlete is just 14 years old and achieved 108 reps of 12kg in their first competition. Valerie-Ann noted that it is exciting to see younger athletes participate because kettlebell lifting is well-suited for developing bodies. It focuses on sub-maximal loads, which is gentle on joints while still building strength, endurance, coordination, and mental discipline.
Community Support is Crucial
Kettlebell sport is entirely self-funded, meaning international events like the Milan 2025 championship can place significant financial burdens on athletes. In Brisbane, all kettlebell associations are maintained by the dedication, time, and effort of volunteers. Valerie-Ann is appealing to the community to show their support by signing up for a $1 supporter membership on the Girevoy Sport Association Australia (GSAA) website. She explained that this not only supports the lifters but also helps achieve the long-term objective of having kettlebell recognised at an Olympic level, saying that even a dollar means a lot to them.
Locals of all ages, body types, and fitness levels are encouraged to join Brisbane’s kettlebell scene. The presence of community support, experienced coaches, and committed competitors makes the sport accessible and rewarding for everyone. Queensland Kettlebell Sport welcomes anyone curious to attend a session, watch a competition, or simply reach out, stating they would be delighted to have new participants involved.
Published Date 29-May-2025
