Donald's Story
Donald “Don” Mitchell was born and educated in Sydney’s Canterbury-Bankstown district and lived in Padstow during his competitive career. He developed as a weightlifter at the South Bankstown YMCA in Revesby before joining the Burwood Police Boys Club. Mitchell became a multiple New South Wales champion and won national titles across a 12-year period during the 1970s and 1980s. His Australian snatch record stood for 13 years.
Mitchell made his Olympic appearance at Moscow 1980, aged 25. Competing in the men’s 110-kilogram category, he lifted 162.5 kilograms in the snatch and 190 kilograms in the clean and jerk. His combined total of 352.5 kilograms earned him seventh place.
Selected for the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games, Mitchell retired from competition on medical advice after a back injury failed to heal. He remained closely involved in weightlifting, coaching at clubs around Sydney and encouraging young athletes. A teacher by profession, Mitchell also contributed to the Academy of Western Sydney Sport and the New South Wales Institute of Sport and served as a director of Sydney’s Olympic stadium.
