Pulling her weight

TORI Gallegos lifts Australian gold medal.

WEIGHTLIFTING : Tori Gallegos is never one to shirk a challenge as her weightlifting competitors were again reminded of at this year's Australian youth championships.

The Toowoomba teenager's entry into the sport of weightlifting has reached another high after her latest victory at the Australian Weightlifting Federation championships in Brisbane.

Gallegos won her female 64kg youth category and was also named best overall female lifter - based on body weight - at the championships.

The Glennie School Year 11 student snared gold with a 73kg snatch and 90kg clean and jerk lift.

"It wasn't my best performance, but I completed five out of my six lifts and I was very happy with the result," 16-year-old Gallegos said.

Success is nothing new to Gallegos who was also a former international Crossfit Games competitor before recently shifting her focus to weightlifting.

She finished second in the 64kg category at the August Australian Junior and Under 23 Championships after also scoring a podium finish at the Oceania Championships in July.

Gallegos continues Crossfit training for fitness but has turned her competition attention to Olympic weightlifting under coach Greg Hobl.

"I first went over to weightlifting to help with Crossfit and then sort of like what happened," Gallegos said.

"I really love the challenge that it brings and I love being strong and able to lift.

"I think it's such an important thing, especially for the youth today to feel strong and to be able to empower yourself.

'I just love it. I love the club. I love Toowoomba Weightlifting Association - it's always a good time there.

"Training is more like the physical challenge but when you go into comp it's more like a mental challenge."

Gallegos's next competition is the upcoming Queensland All Schools Championships.

"That will be a good competition. We're looking to hit a PB total," Gallegos said.