WEIGHTLIFTING: Dual Olympian Damon Kelly will be the star turn at this weekend’s Australian Open Weightlifting Championships in Brisbane, as he looks to continue building on his totals ahead of final Rio selection next year.

Kelly lifted 370kg at the Australian Club Championships in October, and needs to add another nine kilograms sometime before the middle of next year to earn Australia a qualifying spot for Rio.

His 370kg total in Brisbane was a 4kg improvement on his silver­medal winning performance at the Commonwealth Championships in India, also in October.

Also looking to make a mark this weekend will be Commonwealth Games medalists, Simple Ribouem and Francois Etoundi, in the 94kg and 77kg divisions respectively. 

Legally blind Sydney lifter and Commonwealth Games athlete, Malek Chamoun, will compete in the 85kg division.

In the women’s competition, London Olympian Seen Lee will be out to prove she deserves a place in the Rio team when she lifts in the 58kg division.

Commonwealth Games lifter, Kylie Lindbeck, will make her return to lifting after an injury break, and will face tough competition from World Championship lifter, Kiana Elliott, in the 69kg division.

Philippa Malone, in the 63kg, and Tia­Clair Toomey, in the 75+kg, are the other World Championship team members competing at the Chandler Weightlifting Centre. 

ROSS SOLLY FOR WEIGHTLIFITNG AUSTRALIA