When Ebony Gorincu narrowly missed out on selection for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in the bobsleigh, she was left devastated, and thought she would never dream of competing on the world stage.
But she will do just that in a matter of days, albeit in a different sport.
Logan product Ms Gorincu is a member of Australia’s 11-member weightlifting team heading to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
The 32-year-old John Paul College graduate, who will compete in the 76kg division, is “ecstatic” about her selection, especially after her road to the Commonwealth Games has taken some interesting turns.
“It’s pretty crazy still. I think it still hasn’t really fully sunk in,” she said.
“I pretty narrowly missed out on the last one four years ago. I needed to win in my category and I came second so that was pretty devastating.
“Finally making it after that – and that long – it’s pretty surreal.”
Ms Gorincu says she took up lifting weights to improve her push technique for bobsleigh, but after missing selection for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, she switched her focus to weightlifting.
“I came back from the Winter Olympics and I had kind of fallen a little bit in love with weightlifting and just thought well; ‘I’ll give that a go and see what happens,’ and I haven’t left.
“I guess it was always the aim early on after two or three years of weightlifting; it was pretty evident that I could possibly have a chance.”
Ms Gorincu, who works at a small engineering firm doing mechanical drafting, has no issue with pushing herself out of her comfort zone and embracing new challenges.
She started her sporting life as an accomplished sprinter and hurdler at national level before giving the bobsleigh a go when she was 21.
She says she will use her years of experience in athletics and bobsleigh to help her mentally prepare for her weightlifting event in Birmingham.
“In bobsledding you are only one team out on the track at a time, so you really just focus on what you can do, which I think then sort of translates a bit into weightlifting but in a more intense form– you’re the only one out there on the platform,” she said.
“You are up against everyone else, but ultimately it’s you and the bar.”
Ms Gorincu is in strong form heading into the Games.
She set her personal best of 94kg in the snatch at the Queensland Club Championships in July 2020, and clean and jerk (118kg) and total (209kg) at the Singapore International in February 2022.
“We are lifting big weight, so I think you have to go into it with some sort of calm and control but a pretty aggressive mind frame as well,” she said.
“I just have to back myself.”
Ms Gorincu recently finished up training camp with the Australian team in Spain and will compete in the Games on Tuesday August 2.
All the Games will be broadcast live on 7Plus. More info: 7plus.com.au/commonwealth-games
