Local Athlete's � Olympic Dream

Northside weightlifting champion Matthew Lydement will realise his Olympic dream competing in this year's Games.

Matthew, 27, makes his Olympic debut in Tokyo as part of Australia's largest weightlifting team since Sydney 2000.

Matthew said he first became interested in weightlifting after watching videos on YouTube.

I thought it was super impressive and working in the fitness industry I thought it would be a good skill to learn,� Matthew said. At the time I was working in Albion when a weightlifting gym opened down the road and the coach was Damon Kelly. After my first competition I fell in love with the sport and wanted to improve.�

Two-time Olympian Damon Kelly became Matthew's coach and the rest, they say, is history. � Matthew has now been weightlifting for nearly eight years, competing since 2015, and representing Australia since 2017.

I have the current Commonwealth and Australian snatch record of 166kg and the Australian record total for the 109kg weight class of 356kg total,� Matthew said.

The qualification process for the Games began more than two and a half years ago. Matthew said it was a long, uncertain process.

With being unsure around my spot I was relieved to find out, then once we had the announcement day, that was when the realisation of what I had achieved set in,� he said.

I am excited about having the opportunity to represent my country and family on the biggest stage of my sport, and to share a platform with some of the biggest athletes in the world.�

Matthew grew up in Boondall, attended St Patrick's College in Shorncliffe and played cricket for Sandgate Redcliffe Cricket Club. I am very proud to be from the Northside,� he said.

Matthew said the best thing about weightlifting was that it was a journey of growth, both physically and mentally. Training can be gruelling and a challenge, but it's very satisfying and for the most part it's a competition against yourself, and all about self-improvement,� he said.

Matthew hopes to hit two personal bests at the Games. His current personal bests are 167kg for snatch and 190kg for clean and jerk.

The weightlifting competition runs from 24 to 28 July and 31 July to 4 August at the Tokyo International Forum.