Hani Watson (Para-powerlifting) broke Australia’s 16-year medal drought in powerlifting when she won bronze in the women’s heavyweight in Birmingham with a best lift of 127kg – nearly 30kg more than her body weight. Hani spent a lot of time around the gym growing up, as her father Charlie – who died when she was 17 – was a body builder and she would often join him in doing curls and bench presses. “He would have been very proud,” said Watson, who choked back tears on the podium. “I’m an old duck, compared to some of these people and I’ve walked away with a bronze medal.” Hani was born with bilateral metaphyseal dysplasia, which bowed her tibia and femur bones, and despite numerous surgeries, squats became more difficult. That’s when Australian para-powerlifting coach Simon Bergner stepped in to help. She began powerlifting competitively in 2018, got classified a year later and then found herself at the 2021 World Championships in Georgia, breaking an Oceania record and finishing 8th overall at only her second competition. Gold at the 2022 Para-Powerlifting Brisbane Classic opened the door for her selection for the Commonwealth Games. Although her birth certificate says her first name is Hannah, she legally changed it to Hani which has a special meaning to her Niuean Polynesian background – it means “enjoying rain” or “being one with the water.”