MEET THE PRO

Jess Wright

About Me

I got into powerlifting while living in Canberra in 2016 looking for an individual sport, was playing women's Brumbies at the time and really enjoyed the weights in my training. I moved on to weightlifting for a new challenge and wanted to see how close we could make it to qualifying for Birmingham in 2022. I have always been very sporty and previously represented Australia in karate for 8 years and played women's 15s rugby with the Brumbies.

New South Wales Weightlifting Association

2022

State Record in Snatch

77kg

-55kg Women

New South Wales Weightlifting Association

2021

State Record in Clean and Jerk

96kg

-55kg Women

New South Wales Weightlifting Association

2021

State Total Record

170kg

-55kg Women

Australian Weightlifting Federation

2022

#1 Ranked Female Weightlifter

-55kg

-

Commonwealth Games qualification

2022

Weightlifting

-55kg

Top 10 in Commonwealth

Singapore international Commonwealth Games qualifier

2022

International Weightlifting Federation

-55kg

2nd Place

Australian Weightlifting Federation

2021

#1 Ranked Female Weightlifter

-55kg

-

FIBO China international

2019

best overall lifter for competition

-58kg

1st Place

Pacific Challenge Invitational

2019

best overall lifter for competition, team captain for Australia

-58kg

1st place

Australian national championships

2019

best overall lifter for competition

-58kg

1st place

World Powerlifting record

2019

Deadlift

194kg

-58kg

World Powerlifting record

2019

Total

436kg

-58kg

Australian national championships

2018

Powerlifting Australia

-63kg

3rd Place

Australian national championships

2017

Powerlifting Australia

-63kg

top 3

Macquarie University full Blues Award

Female Sport Athlete of the Year

2019

Best sporting moment

Having the opportunity to attend Commonwealth Games qualifiers, reaching 500 wilks in 2019 at the Aus Fitness Expo

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

What does your competition day look like (Do you have a pre-comp ritual or superstitions)?

I always train the day before. Morning of I enjoy a walk with my partner to help take my mind off things and de-stress. No ritual but I'm a big believer in staying composed through the day and trusting the process.

What is the most important mental aspect of your training and competing?

Keeping everything the same - I want my comp days to be as familiar to me as possible. Training and competing don't feel too different because the structure and intensity are all very similar. Mentally, I am a firm believer in positive self-talk and imagery prior to my lifts and find these are pivotal in my performance.

Who are your role models and why?

I have always loved Tia-Clair Toomey for her ability to be so athletic and hybrid in all aspects of her training and love the intensity she brings to training and competition while being able to stay focused and composed.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start in the sport?

Don't aim for perfect, aim for consistency. Lifting is a marathon, you have to be in it for the long game and it all comes down to how consistent you can be. Things go wrong, injuries happen, life happens - but keep turning up and you'll achieve anything you set.

What are your plans and goals for the future in your sport and generally?

I haven't been on the competition floor since rupturing my quad, so I'd eventually love to find it again and really miss the adrenaline rush you get being out there. I love powerlifting and weightlifting so much, so who knows!

What do you enjoy doing outside of the gym/sport?

I'm a full-time physiotherapist, assistant coach/physiotherapist for the Australian para-powerlifting Paralympic team and married to my partner Brad. We love travelling, enjoying coffee and training.