Campbelltown weightlifter Jacqueline Nichele sets sights on Paris Olympics 2024

Four years ago Jacqueline Nichele tried weightlifting for the first time. Now, she has her sights set on the Olympics berth next year after winning a world title at her first international competition.

Wedderburn weightlifter Jacqueline Nichele has her sights set on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Just four years ago a Campbelltown teenager decided to try her hand at weightlifting, but now she has her sights set on her making her Olympic dream a reality.

Wedderburn’s Jacqueline Nichele, 23, has been involved in competitive sports since she was five but started competing in weightlifting in 2019 after meeting her now-coach through a CrossFit gym.

Nichele has already seen success, notably when she came first in the 71kg woman’s class at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in India, the same division she will work to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She currently trains at Pinnacle Fitness at Liverpool Catholic Club and CrossFit 168 at Alexandria, with her best clean and jerk at 122kg.

“That was my first overseas comp, and when I came first in my first international event, it was huge,” Nichele said. “It was also the first time I had even travelled overseas, so I am getting so much support from the community for it too.”

@jacquelinenichele Support crew 10/10 #fyp#fittok#gym♬ My Barn My Rules - MCR-T & horsegiirL

She said it was “incredibly scary and exciting” to finally commit to trying for the Olympics, as she had been “at war” with herself to even comprehend it was possible.

“My coach and I have spent the last couple of years building slowly, and we had some long-term goals when we first started, which included the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, but that was like ‘, wow, what a dream, wouldn’t that be great’,” Nichele said.

Wedderburn weightlifter Jacqueline Nichele will be starting her Olympic trials this September.

She came first in her class at the Commonwealth Championships in India.

“Now we are starting to put things into place, and we are pushing for it.”

Nichele has started a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of the process, which involves five compulsory international events over the next nine months, which will cost her more than $30,000.

So far, the community has already raised more than $10,000, and Nichele said she was amazed at how people rallied around her.

“Even people who have not donated have reached out to wish me luck or offered to film my training for social posts to help gain sponsors,” Nichele said.

“Everyone is offering to help in their own way, and I am just so grateful and so thankful.”

Originally published as Campbelltown weightlifter Jacqueline Nichele sets sights on Paris Olympics 2024