Erika Yamasaki

ABOUT

Name: Erika Yamasaki

Age (in 2020): 33

Sport: Weightlifting

Coach: Angela Wydall


RESULTS

Best international result/s: Commonwealth games; Bronze medal in Melbourne 2006, Pacific Games Gold Medallist 2015 and 2019, Oceania Champion 2019, Arafura Games Gold Medallist 2019

Major goal for 2020: To make to 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and break to Oceania records

Most memorable sporting moment: It would definitely have to be becoming the first and still the only female in Australia to Clean and Jerk double my body weight in 2015. I lifted 106kgs overhead while weighing below 53kgs.

Biggest challenge you have faced: The biggest challenge for me was during the period where I suffered from Anxiety and Depression. It had affected my weightlifting a lot and made it difficult to train and I was more susceptible to injuries. Getting back on my feet was one of the biggest challenges but also one of my biggest achievements.

What do you like most about your sport? I absolutely love competing the most! It's a very tactical sport with lots of excitement going on in the warm up area.

Who/what inspires you to achieve your best in sport? When I first started weightlifting, it was more about becoming the best athlete I could be, the travelling and making friends. However, now I love the feeling I get from encouraging those around me, especially in encouraging women of all ages.

Favourite food/drink: Japanese food!! Chinese, Thai, Italian, Mexican (especially GYG), mmmm just everything! =D

Favourite song/music: Always hard to choose but I do like Muse, Arctic Monkeys, British India and Daft Punk to name a few.

Favourite destination: My favourite destination is Japan. My father is Japanese so I could be a little bias, but I just love being immersed in the Japanese culture.