Maddie Harper

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—I wish to congratulate Maddie Harper who has qualified to represent her country after lifting three times her body weight. Maddie will represent Australia at the Sub-junior and Junior Powerlifting World Championships to be held in Malta this August. Maddie is 15 years old and attends St. Bede's College at Chisholm. At just 52kgs herself, Maddie qualified at the Australian Championships late last month. She successfully completing a 105kg squat, a 75kg bench press and a 140kg deadlift, a awe inspiring achievement. Maddie becomes only the second Australian in International Power Lifting history to attend the World Championships in an U52kg sub junior class. It has been an amazing 12 months for Maddie who only took up power lifting as a sport last year. Maddie had previously trained in gymnastics and diving before the switch. Maddie currently trains 4 days a week at the Hunter Performance Centre with her coach Aiden Potts and will be working to increase her deadlift weight for the World Championships. I wish Maddie all the best in Malta and congratulate her on her Australian U52kg Sub-junior women's champion wins in all three lift categories.