Weightlifters Eileen Cikamantan, Jacqueline Nichele and Kyle Bruce have been selected in the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with the trio named at the Victorian Weightlifting Stadium over the weekend.

The three 24-year-olds will all make their Olympic debut in Paris, Cikamatana in the women’s 81kg division, Nichele in the women’s 71kg and Bruce the men’s 89kg class. 

Cikamatana is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Oceania record holder and bronze medallist at the 2024 World Cup event in Thailand.  

Bruce is the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Oceania record holder, while Nichele is a Pacific Games champion and heading to her first Olympics only five years after taking up the sport. 

The athletes earned their spot at Paris through an exhaustive weightlifting qualification process, with Cikamatana finishing the ranking period ranked fourth in the world to secure a quota, while Bruce and Nichele both finished as the top Oceania athletes in world rankings to book their Olympic ticket. 

Cikamatana shares a love of the sport and her weightlifting community that has helped her on her Olympic journey, with a steely focus on what she wants to achieve in Paris. 

“My goal for Paris is to be on the podium. Going to the Paris Olympics is a dream come true, almost 10 years in the making,” Cikamatana said. 

“I love weightlifting, it makes me feel strong not only physically but mentally. I’m my own opponent, I worry about nobody else. It makes me resilient and keeps me grounded, grateful and humble. 

Sydney-sider Bruce was thrilled to lock in his Olympic debut. 

“It is every Aussie kid’s dream to go to the Olympics to represent the green and gold, wear the Australian coat of arms,” said Bruce. 

“I’m super grateful. I’m so passionate about my country I adore this country, it has done so much for me. I’m so patriotic, and to be selected for the Olympics means so much to me. I’m living the dream.” 

With thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Weightlifting Federation.