Peters puts in top lift

The odds of winning a medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games were stacked against sole female lifter Luisa Peters – but the 17-year-old wowed the Cook Islands camp by lifting 10kg heavier than she has ever before.

The teenager took to the stage on Saturday night for her time in the spotlight during the open women’s 75kg + division.

Of the 11 competitors in the class – Peters was the youngest, the oldest being 40, and the second lightest at 88kg bodyweight.

The biggest lifter, based on body weight, was 145kg Niuean lifter Narita Viliamu and also in her division was Commonwealth Games gold medallist and record holder Ele Opelenge of Samoa.

In fact Opelenge was in a class of her own as she went on to win the gold and set new Commonwealth Games records.

But the local girl stepped up onto the stage and snatched 62kg, 65kg and a top snatch of 70kg.

And as if lifting weights wasn’t a big enough task – imagine not knowing how much you were lifting!

That was the case for Peters who left it up to coach Sam Pera to play the mind games behind the scenes – she just stepped up and lifted.

Her first lift of 81kg in the clean and jerk was a new record lift for Peters who couldn’t believe she had it in her.

But her coach did and she stepped up again for her second lift – again without knowing how much she was lifting.

“When I cleaned the weights I was like...this is not 82kg – but then I was like you can do it,” said Peters afterwards.

And with that pure determination – she jerked a whopping 185kg.

Her final lift however was one her coached measured up as a test for the young lady.

But the final lift of 88kg was a bit too much for Luisa – this time.

Next time she will nail it as she plans on getting better in the sport she loves.

Both Peters and fellow lifters have been receiving accolades all weekend from fellow team Cook Islands members and athletes in the lifting fraternity who will need to keep a keen eye on this top lifter from Avatiu.