From 2004:
... [In 2004, Erika Yamasaki] won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games ...
Yamasaki, whose father, Minoru, moved to Australia from Japan [20] years ago, ... now has taken out the Commonwealth Youth gold medal in the 53 kilograms division.
Yamasaki dominated both sections of the lift. "My next big goal is the Melbourne Commonwealth Games," Yamasaki said ... more
And this month:
IF her Commonwealth Games dream is fulfilled, by Thursday pint-sized weightlifter Erika Yamasaki will have Australia's first gold medal of the Games hanging around her neck.
Her event, the 48kg class, will be held well away from the glamour of the pool and the MCG athletics track.
But coming on the opening day of the Games competition, the 149cm Darwin-born teenager hopes to lead the nation's goldrush, just as diver Irina Lashko did in winning Australia's first gold in the women's 1m springboard at Manchester in 2002.
"To be on the podium in my first Commonwealth Games ... that would be awesome," says the bubbly 18-year-old, thrilled to be participating on home soil ...
Yamasaki, a clerical trainee with the Queensland Weightlifting Association who has hoisted twice her body weight in the clean and jerk, is considered the mascot in the weightlifting squad of 15; eight men and seven women.
Her effort on Thursday could set the tone for the tournament for the other lifters and everyone in the Australian Games team.
Yamasaki is happy her event comes up first, not only to avoid a long, tense wait or a strict diet, but to allow her to support others on the Australian team. "I'm just like any normal teenager," she says. "It's having the opportunity to do what I want. If I get the chance, I want to see the gymnastics, some of the athletics and diving and I definitely want to get to the boxing." ... more
See video of her 70 kg snatch here
I'll be rooting for her on Thursday.
