A Nundah resident has conquered the Kettlebell World Championship in Corfu, Greece, bringing home seven gold medals and a bronze.
Valerie-Ann Abbott, a product lead for a global platform, first began kettlebell training at her local gym after a coach encouraged her to try it.
She never expected to compete on the world stage a few years later. In October 2024, Abbott travelled to Greece with eight Australian athletes to compete in the Kettlebell World Championship. Despite her busy work schedule, Abbott prioritises her training, fitting in four weekly sessions. These sessions, programmed by her coach in Scotland, focus on full-body strength and endurance.
Training for Success
Abbott believes her success is due to her “train hard, compete easy” motto. By varying her training conditions, she prepares for unexpected challenges during competitions. The strong support within the Australian team also played a crucial role. Kettlebell lifting is an individual sport, and Abbott explained that hearing her teammates cheer her on helped her push through the pain and achieve her goals.
A Sport for Everyone
Abbott was impressed by the diverse range of athletes at the championship, from a six-year-old to a 76-year-old competitor. She believes this shows that kettlebell lifting is a sport for everyone.
Abbott encourages anyone interested in the sport to try it out and join the growing community in Brisbane. She highlights the quality of local trainers and the sport’s accessibility, noting that four of the eight Australian team members were from Brisbane clubs.
Future Goals
Abbott is already setting sights on the next World Championship in Milan, Italy. She plans to compete in the professional category, where she lifts 24kg kettlebells instead of her usual 16kg, and aims to win gold. She is excited to continue her kettlebell journey and see what the future holds.
Published Date 25-Jan-2025
