Weightlifter Kaity Fassina is keen to create some Tasmanian history of her own on the Gold Coast

HOBART’S Kaity Fassina is keen to prolong Tasmania’s proud weightlifting heritage at the Commonwealth Games.

Tasmanian weightlifter Kaitlyn Fassina. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

HOBART’S Kaity Fassina is keen to prolong Tasmania’s proud weightlifting heritage at the Commonwealth Games.

The 27-year-old will be making her Games debut at Carrara Sports Centre on Monday, but knows she is following a distinguished pedigree in the sport.

Gino Fratangelo competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics before attending Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982, where he finished fourth, and Edinburgh four years later, when he won a silver medal.

Ron Laycock claimed two gold medals and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990 while Jenna Myers earned selection to both the past two events in New Delhi and Glasgow.

With world, Commonwealth and Australian championship experience behind her, Fassina is keen to create some Tasmanian history of her own.

Kaity Fassina, right, as a 19-year-old Tasmanian representative weightlifter, with Simon Bannister, left, and Zac Grgurevic.

“I do know a bit about Tasmanian weightlifting,” said The Friends’ School physical education teacher, who is coached by Leo Isaac at the Weightlifting Academy of Tasmania, in Glenorchy.

“I know about Gino and Jenna, plus Camilla Fogagnolo was an Oceania championships representative and one of my colleagues at work, Ian Murray, was a national champion,” Fassina said.

“It’s good to be a part of that. At the academy there is such a strong network and it’s great to be a part of that and getting another Tasmanian at the Commonwealth Games is only going to help grow that support,” she said.

The former state junior swimming representative will be a genuine medal contender in the 90kg division.

Kaity Fassina, left, as a member of the Royal Life Saving Society of Tasmania team in 2011, with Jamie Rusden, Amanda Mayes, Julia Fassina, Bec Henderson, Caitlyn Livingstone, Elize Krakowiak, Brendan Dart, and coach Chris Wright.

Recent International Weightlifting Federation rankings place Fassina second, with a personal best total lift of 228kg, behind only Fijian veteran Eileen Cikamatana (253kg) with Cameroon’s Clementine Noumbissi third (223kg) and only three others above 200kg (New Zealand’s Tracey Lambrechs; Siti Rosli, of Malaysia; and Tayla Howe, of Wales).

“I feel I’ve done enough training but have not performed to my best yet and am aiming for a medal,” said the mother-of-one.

“It would be a great personal achievement. I’m very excited, but also relieved because it’s been a long road to get here.”

Fassina will contest the women’s 90kg weightlifting at 2pm on Monday at the Carrara Sports Centre.

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